Newsletters | Request Trial | Log in | Advertise | Digital Issue   |   Search
  • Upstream
  • Midstream & Downstream
  • Gas & LNG
  • Trading & Markets
  • Corporate & Finance
  • Geopolitics
  • Podcasts
Search
Related Articles
ADNOC eyes cross-border opportunities
The Emirati company is ramping up its overseas expansion programme, taking it into new geographic areas that challenge long-held assumptions about Gulf NOCs
IEA and OPEC energy assumptions on fragile ground
Geopolitical uncertainty casts a pall over expectations around demand, supply, investment and spare capacity
Saudi Arabia and Russia pull OPEC+ in different directions
The two oil heavyweights’ diverging fiscal considerations are straining unity within the group
OPEC+ still showing restraint
Petroleum Economist analysis shows OPEC bringing back some barrels in May, but fewer than expected, while OPEC+ continues to see output fall
Asia proves a growing draw for Gulf players
A newly formed joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Sinopec signals rising Gulf interest in the Asian market
A new energy order in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
The two Gulf states are combining fossil fuel production with ambitions to become leaders in low-carbon energy
OPEC+ keeps more barrels off market in April
A fall in Venezuelan output drives overall production lower, as Saudi Arabia starts to slowly bring more crude to the market
UAE studies AI power needs as high gas demand strains energy mix
Rewards offered by investment in the sector must be balanced by its energy consumption amid an increasingly gas-hungry domestic market
OPEC compliance improves amid market share threat
The surprise decision to bring on extra supply has coincided with better quota conformity from laggards in the group, Petroleum Economist analysis shows
Mideast Gulf oil exporters may engage in price war
The spectre of Saudi Arabia’s 2020 market share strategy haunts a suffering OPEC+ as Trump upends the energy world
Opinion
UAE Opec
Robin M Mills
Dubai
30 March 2021
Follow @PetroleumEcon
Forward article link
Share PDF with colleagues

Letter from the Middle East: UAE unveils Murban benchmark

Pivot towards Asia paves the way for a new crude futures contract, offering an attractive alternative to long-established grades

The shifting tectonic plates of Mid-East Gulf oil do not move quickly, but the landscape changes when they do. And for some time, it has been inevitable that the transforming world market would have an impact on the core of the Gulf’s petroleum business—how its oil is priced and sold. The launch of Abu Dhabi’s Murban futures on 29 March could become such a change. Exchange Ice is partnering with Abu Dhabi NOC Adnoc and heavyweights of the global petroleum industry such as Shell, trader Vitol and Chinese state-owned Petrochina, to launch Ice Futures Abu Dhabi (Ifad), offering futures in Murban—Abu Dhabi’s flagship export grade, a light, sweetish crude (40.5 API and 0.79pc sulphur). Three key

Also in this section
Oil demand ramps up air miles
23 June 2025
Jet fuel will play crucial role in oil consumption growth even with efficiency gains and environmental curbs, with geopolitical risks highlighting importance of plentiful stocks
Letter from the Middle East: Iran-Israel war risks dire straits
23 June 2025
A blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would have reverberations that would sound around the world
Energy’s electric shock
20 June 2025
The scale of energy demand growth by 2030 and beyond asks huge questions of gas supply especially in the US
ADNOC eyes cross-border opportunities
20 June 2025
The Emirati company is ramping up its overseas expansion programme, taking it into new geographic areas that challenge long-held assumptions about Gulf NOCs

Share PDF with colleagues

Rich Text Editor, message-text
Editor toolbarsBasic Styles Bold ItalicParagraph Insert/Remove Numbered List Insert/Remove Bulleted List Decrease Indent Increase IndentLinks Link Unlinkabout About CKEditor
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: PDF sharing is permitted internally for Petroleum Economist Gold Members only. Usage of this PDF is restricted by <%= If(IsLoggedIn, User.CompanyName, "")%>’s agreement with Petroleum Economist – exceeding the terms of your licence by forwarding outside of the company or placing on any external network is considered a breach of copyright. Such instances are punishable by fines of up to US$1,500 per infringement
Send

Forward article Link

Rich Text Editor, txt-link-message
Editor toolbarsBasic Styles Bold ItalicParagraph Insert/Remove Numbered List Insert/Remove Bulleted List Decrease Indent Increase IndentLinks Link Unlinkabout About CKEditor
Send
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Project Data
Maps
Podcasts
Social Links
Featured Video
Home
  • About us
  • Subscribe
  • Reaching your audience
  • PE Store
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact us
  • Privacy statement
  • Cookies
  • Sitemap
All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws © 2025 The Petroleum Economist Ltd
Cookie Settings
;

Search

  • Upstream
  • Midstream & Downstream
  • Gas & LNG
  • Trading & Markets
  • Corporate & Finance
  • Geopolitics
  • Podcasts
Search