A fuel shortage in Sharjah has also spread to other northern emirates such as Umm Al-Quwain.

The world’s third largest crude oil exporter is facing its third fuel shortage in the past 10 months that is now in its fourth week.

“Sharjah Executive Council (has) mandated the Sharjah Department of Economic Development to take all necessary action, including closing down all the group’s filling stations and associated facilities if it failed to meet the 72 hour deadline,” UAE state news agency WAM reported, adding the deadline began on June 21.

Authorities have struggled to explain the cause of the shortage. They first blamed it on maintenance work but analysts point to government subsidies for petrol, which have ballooned due to soaring oil prices in order to comply with fixed prices that deliver fuel to customers at a cheaper price.

“A fuel shortage crisis led 82 ENOC-owned filling stations in (the emirate of) Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah to halt their operations for almost a month,” WAM said.

Enoc group is the parent company of fuel retailers Emirates National Oil Co (ENOC) and its arm Emirates Petroleum Products Co (EPPCO).