ﺲــــايـيـــات والمقــــواصفـارات للمــــة اﻹمــــهيئ 
Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology 
(ESMA) 
 
 
 
Final Draft Standard   
UAE.S /FDS / 5018:2016  
Review 
 
 المتطلبات وطرق اﻹختبار –الجازولين الخالي من الرصاص 
Unleaded Gasoline - Requirements and Test Methods  
  
 
 
 
 
 
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 
 
 
 
ICS: 75.160.20     
 
Prepared by 
National Technical Committee Standard for Oil & Gas  
 
This document is a UAE draft standard circulated for comment. It is, therefore 
subject to change and may not be referred to as UAE standard until approved by 
the board of directors . 
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UAE STANDARD                                                   UAE.S 5018: 2016  
1 
  
 
 التقديم
 واص
وطني
 .ذات العﻼقة والﺨاصة الجهات الحكومية من تضم مﺨتﺼين متﺨﺼﺼة 
بتح
مش
الحكومي
بن
 مواص 
الج
.بق   مح
UAE.S 20001:2006.  
 
 
Foreword 
Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA) is the national 
Standard body, one of its main functions is preparing and issuing UAE national 
standards.   
National technical committee, for Oil and Gas Standards, review UAE compulsory 
standard no. UAE.S 20001:2006 for “Unleaded Gasoline” and prepared updated 
draft of this standard and have been circulated to all partnership for information and 
comments, received comments had been considering in the finale draft before 
approved and issued as compulsory standard by UAE Ministerial Cabinet. The 
approved compulsory standard  no. UAE.S 5018:2016  will replace and supersede 
the UAE standard no. UAE.S 20001:2006.          
 
 
 
 
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UAE STANDARD                                                   UAE.S 5018: 2016  
2 
  
 
Introduction:  
Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology is established by 
federal law No. 28 in 2001 as a National Standardization Body.  
- Fuel quality is main part of the system of emission control level in gasoline 
vehicle engine. Vehicle exhaust emission which is main source of air pollution in 
cities all over the world. According to that ESMA is working in parallel to control 
vehicle exhaust emission by improving standard specification  of fuel quality and 
the standards of controlling gaseous emission level of vehicles.  
  
- In 2002 ESMA had issued the first UAE standard specification of 
unleaded gasoline, N0. UAE.S 20001:2002 which prepared by a technical 
committee formed for drafting proposal  of standard specifications for 
petroleum products, with specialists and experts members representing the 
ministry of oil, national oil companies and environmental bodies. That time was 
the start of transformation in United Arab Emirate for the use of unleaded 
gasoline, the most important characteristic of that specification of this fuel after 
stopping the use of lead compounds for improvement gasoline octane number, 
was also reduced the sulfur content to 500 ppm. 
 
- ESMA through the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Oil and 
Gas, made the First review this standard to improve the characteristics of 
unleaded gasoline to reduce total sulfur content from 500 ppm to 100 ppm and 
other criteria, the updated standard approved and issued UAE.S 20001:2006. 
  
- National Technical Committee for Standardization of Oil and Gas make second 
review for unleaded gasoline standard and prepare this updated standard, to 
improvement the properties of gasoline to be more compatible with internal 
combustion engine vehicles supplied with catalyst converter using for reduce 
gases contaminated ratios of vehicle exhaust. Important change in 
characteristic of this new version is reducing total sulfur in this fuel from 100 to 
50 ppm, not to allow adding any metallic additives to improve the octane 
number, only oxygenated additives (MTBE) is allowed. Number and title of 
standard amended to UAE.S 5018 "unleaded gasoline- requirements and test 
methods”. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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UAE STANDARD                                                   UAE.S 5018: 2016  
3 
  
Unleaded Gasoline - Requirements and Test Methods 
 
1 Scope 
This Emirates standard specifies requirements and test methods for 
marketed and delivered unleaded gasoline (ULG). It is applicable for use in 
spark ignited engine vehicles designed to run on ULG this fuel type contain 
three grades according to octane numbers-viz, regular 91, special 95 and 
super 98. 
 
2 Complementary References 
The following referenced documents applicable for the usage of this 
document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated 
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any 
amendments) applies. 
2.1 Standards 
2.1.1 UAE.S GSO 1080 Determination of gum in gasoline and aviation 
fuel by jet evaporation  
2.1.2 UAE.S GSO 1086 Methods of Test for Gasoline - Determination 
of Vapour- Liquid Ratio.  
2.1.3 UAE.S GSO ISO 2160 Petroleum products - Corrosiveness to 
copper - Copper strip test.  
2.1.4 UAE.S GSO ISO 5163 Petroleum products  - Determination of 
knock characteristics of motor and aviation fuels  - Motor method 
2.1.5 UAE.S GSO ISO 3007 Petroleum products and crude petroleum -       
Determination of vapour pressure - Reid method 
2.1.6 UAE.S GSO ISO 3170 Petroleum Liquids - Manual Sampling. 
2.1.7 UAE.S GSO ISO 3405 Petroleum Products - Determination of 
Distillation Characteristics at Atmospheric Pressure. 
2.1.8 UAE.S GSO ISO 3675 Crude petroleum and liquid petroleum 
products - Laboratory determination of density - Hydrometer method  
2.1.9 UAE.S GSO ISO 3830 Petroleum products - Determination of lead 
content of gasoline - Iodine monochloride method. 
2.1.10 UAE.S GSO ISO 3837 Liquid petroleum products - 
Determination of hydrocarbon types - Fluorescent indicator 
adsorption method 
2.1.11 UAE.S GSO ISO 5163 Petroleum products - Determination of 
knock characteristics of motor and aviation fuels - Motor method 
2.1.12 UAE.S GSO ISO 5164 Petroleum products - Determination of 
knock characteristics of motor fuels - Research method. 
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UAE STANDARD                                                   UAE.S 5018: 2016  
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 2.1.13 UAE.S GSO ISO 20846 petroleum products - determination of 
sulfur content of automotive fuels - ultraviolet fluorescence method.  
2.1.14 UAE.S GSO ISO 20847 petroleum products - determination of 
sulphur content in automotive fuels - energy dispersive x-ray 
fluorescence spectrometry. 
2.1.15 UAE.S GSO ISO 22854 liquid petroleum products  -determination 
of hydrocarbon types and oxygenates in automotive-motor gasoline – 
multi dimensional gas chromatography method. 
2.1.16 UAE.S GSO ISO 20884 Petroleum Products - Determination of 
Sulphur content of automotive fuels by wavelength dispersive x-ray 
fluorescence spectrometry. 
2.1.17 UAE.S GSO ASTM D130 standard test method for corrosiveness 
to copper from petroleum products by copper strip test. 
2.1.18 UAE.S GSO ASTM D1319 Standard Test Method for 
Hydrocarbon Types in Liquid Petroleum Products by Fluorescent 
Indicator Adsorption. 
2.1.19 UAE.S GSO ASTM D2699 Standard Test Method for Research 
Octane Number of Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel 
2.1.20 UAE.S GSO ASTM D2700 Standard Test Method for Motor 
Octane Number of Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel. 
2.1.21 UAE.S ASTM D4057 Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of 
Petroleum and Petroleum Products. 
2.1.22 UAE.S GSO ASTM D4815 Standard method for determination of 
MTBE, ETBE, TAME, DIPE, tetiary-AMyl alcohol and C1 to C4 
alcohols in gasoline by gas chromatography. 
2.1.23 UAE.S GSO ASTM D5845 Standard Test Method for 
Determination of MTBE, ETBE, TAME, DIPE, Methanol, Ethanol 
and tert-Butanol in Gasoline by Infrared Spectroscopy. 
2.1.24 ISO 6246:1995 Petroleum products - Gum content of light and 
middle distillate fuels - Jet evaporation method 2.1.25 ISO 7536 Petroleum products - Determination of oxidation 
stability of gasoline - Induction period method 
2.1.26 ASTM D86 Standard Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum 
Products and Liquid Fuels at Atmospheric Pressure 
2.1.27 ASTM D323 Standard Test Method for Vapor Pressure of 
Petroleum Products (Reid Method) 
2.1.28 ASTM D381 Standard Test Method for Existent Gum in Fuels by 
Jet Evaporation. 
2.1.29 ASTM D525 Standard Test Method for Oxidation Stability of 
Gasoline (Induction Period Method). 
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UAE STANDARD                                                   UAE.S 5018: 2016  
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 2.1.30 ASTM D2622 Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum 
Products by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence 
Spectrometry.  
2.1.31 ASTM D3237 Standard Test Method for Lead in Gasoline by 
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. 
2.1.32 ASTM D3606 Standard Test Method for Determination of 
Benzene and Toluene in Finished Motor and Aviation Gasoline by 
Gas Chromatography 
2.1.33 ASTM D3831 Standard Test Method for Manganese in Gasoline 
by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy 
2.1.34 ASTM D4045 Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum 
Products by Hydrogenolysis and Rateometric Colorimetry 
2.1.35 ASTM D4052 Standard Test Method for Density, Relative 
Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter. 
2.1.36 ASTM D5059 Standard Test Methods for Lead in Gasoline by X-
Ray Spectroscopy. 
2.1.37 ASTM D5188 standard test method for vapor-liquid ratio 
temperature determination of fuels (evacuated chamber and piston 
based method). 
2.1.38 ASTM D5453 standard test method for determination of total 
sulfur in light hydrocarbons, motor fuels and oils by ultraviolet 
fluorescence. 
2.1.39 ASTM D6550 standard test method for determination of olefin 
content of gasolines by supercritical-fluid chromatography. 
2.1.40 ASTM D5580 standard test method for determination of benzene, 
toluene, ethylbenzene, p/m-xylene, o-xylene, c9 and heavier 
aromatics, and total aromatics in finished gasoline by gas 
chromatography 
2.1.41 ASTM D6378 Standard test method for determination of vapor 
pressure (VPx) of petroleum products, hydrocarbons and 
hydrocarbon-oxygenate mixtures (Triple Expansion Method) 
2.1.42 ASTM D7039 standard test method for sulfur in gasoline, diesel 
fuel, jet fuel, kerosene, biodiesel, biodiesel blends, and gasoline-
ethanol blends by monochromatic wavelength dispersive x-ray 
fluorescence spectrometry. 2.1.43 ASTM D7111 standard test method for determination of trace 
elements in middle distillate fuels by inductively coupled plasma 
atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). 
2.1.44 ASTM D7525 standard test method for oxidation stability of 
spark ignition fuel-rapid small scale oxidation test (RSSOT). 
2.1.45 UOP 389 trace metals in organics by ICP-OES. 
  
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UAE STANDARD                                                   UAE.S 5018: 2016  
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2.2 UAE Regulation 
2.2.1 Ministerial Cabinet Decree no (21) / 2015 UAE Regulation for 
Petroleum Products Control.  
 
3 Definitions and Abbreviations 
3.1 Definitions: 
3.1.1 Gasoline 
 A Fuel produced by refining crude oil, used in internal combustion 
engines with spark ignition.  These engines are also known as petrol 
engines /gasoline engines. 
3.1.2 Unleaded Gasoline (ULG)  
Gasoline produced without addition of lead compounds for 
improving its octane ratings. 
 
3.2 Abbreviations:  
ESMA     : Emirates Authority for  Standardization and Metrology  
GSO : GCC Standardization Organization  
GCC : Gulf Cooperation Council   
ASTM : American Society for Testing of Materials  
ULG : Unleaded Gasoline  
MTBE : Methyl tertiary Butyl  Ether  
ETBE : Ethyl tertiary Butyl Ether  
TAME : Tertiary Amyl Methyl Ether 
MMT  : Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl  
 
4.   Characteristics and Requirements  
Following characteristics and requirements shall be available in 
this type of gasoline: 
4.1 It shall be suitable for use as fuel for internal combustion spark 
ignited engine vehicles  and shall be free from any adulterant or 
contaminant that may render the fuel unacceptable for use in such engines .  
4.2 It shall be unleaded and free of any other metal based additives. 
4.3 It shall be free from water and sediments. 
 
4.4   Additives: 
4.4.1 In order to meet the RON requirements, use of ethers as specified 
under 4.4.2 is allowed. Authorized Distribution Companies shall be 
responsible to follow the norms specified above. 
      4.4.2 For octane number improvement ether compounds; MTBE, 
ETBE and TAME are only the permitted additives. 
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UAE STANDARD                                                   UAE.S 5018: 2016  
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 4.4.3 Metallic compound additives such as MMT and Ferrocene (Iron 
Carbonyl etc.) are not allowed. 
4.4.4 Compounds containing phosphorus shall not be added as additives 
to unleaded gasoline.   
4.4.5 The use of dyes and markers is allowed provided they do not 
cause harmful side effects to vehicle and fuel distribution systems .  
4.5 It shall comply with the requirements covered under the 
Table/Annex (1) of Characteristics and Requirements for ULG.  
4.6 ULG shall be free from any additive, not specified in this standard, 
which may render the fuel unacceptable for use in spark ignition 
engines. Any additives other than those specified under clause 4.4.2 
shall be approved by ESMA prior to its use. 
 
5. Sampling Methods  
Samples shall be obtained for inspection and testing in accordance 
with standard of sampling, as outlined under clause, 2.1.6 or 2.1.21.  
Note:  
In view of the sensitivity of some test methods referred to in this Standard, particular 
attention shall be paid to compliance with any guidance on sampling containers, which 
is included in the test method standard.  
       
6. Testing and Inspection 
Testing and inspection of samples for determining properties 
mentioned in Table/Annex (1) carried out according to the said 
testing methods for every property listed by said table.  
 
7. Pump marking  
Labelling shall be clearly visible, easily legible and displayed at any 
point of pump where ULG. Pump marking shall consist of easily 
recognised visual symbols that : 
7.1 Identify the ULG as complying with this standard.  
7.2 The title and colour shall be labelled marking dispenser pumps 
adequately according to research octane number of ULG, to help 
customers identify the appropriate fuels for their vehicles as follows: 
- Super [RON 98] Blue colour. 
- Special [RON 95] Green colour. 
- Regular (Eplus) [RON 91] Red colour.  
  
8. Conformity and quality control 
Conformity of Gasoline shall be deemed according to “Ministerial 
Cabinet Decree no (21) / 2015 UAE Regulation for Petroleum 
Products Control”. The samples of product shall be taken as 
indicated in the testing method referred to clause 6 of this standard. 
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UAE STANDARD                                                   UAE.S 5018: 2016  
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 If testing results of samples, are found in compliance with the 
characteristics and requisites mentioned in clause 4. If found 
inconsistent with one or more of such characteristics it will be then 
deemed noncompliant. 
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UAE STANDARD                                                   UAE.S 5018: 2016  
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 Annex 1   
Table  
Characteristics and Requirements for Unleaded Gasoline  
Footnotes: 
(1) It shall be unleaded and free of any metal based additives.  No intentional addition of 
metal based additives is permitted (See also 4.4.3. & 4.4.4). 
(2)  Manganese levels would be revised going forward (See also 4.4.3).  
(3) Sulphur levels will be revised to progressively lower limits in the next few years.  PPrrooppeerrttyy  Units Limits TTeesstt  MMeetthhoodd  
Min. Max. 
Colour (RON: 91/95/98)  - Red(Regular)/Green(Special)/ 
Blue(SUPER ) Visual 
Octane Number, Research (RON:91/95/98)  - 91.0/95.0/98.0 - UAE.S GSO ASTM D2699 
UAE.S GSO ISO 5164  
Octane Number, Motor (RON: 91/95/98)  - 82.5/85.0/88.0 - UAE.S GSO ISO 5163 
ASTM D2700 
Appearance - Liquid, Clear & Bright  Visual 
Odour - Marketable Olfactory 
 Copper Strip Corrosion(3 h at 50°C)  - 1 UAE.S GSO ISO 2160 
UAE.S GSO ASTM D130 
Density at 15°C (RON: 91/95/98)  Kg /m³ 710 770/790/790  UAE.S GSO ISO 3675   
ASTM D4052 
Distillation;   
 
UAE.S GSO ISO 3405, 
ASTM D86 
  10 % Vol recovered at °C - 65 
50 % Vol recovered at °C 77 115 
90 % Vol recovered at °C - 180 
End Point °C - 205/215/215  
Residue Vol. % - 2.0 
Gum, Existent mg/100 ml  - 4.0 UAE.S GSO 1080, ISO 6246 
ASTM D381  
Induction Period minute 360 - ISO 7536, ASTM D525, D7525 
Lead Content  ¹  mg/l - 5.0 UAE.S GSO ISO 3830 
ASTM D3237, D5059 
*Manganese Content ² mg/l - 5.0 UAE.S GSO ASTM D3831 
ASTM D7111, UOP 389 
Reid Vapour Pressure at 37.8°C  UAE.S GSO ISO 3007, 
ASTM D323, D6378 Summer (Mar-Oct) kPa 0.45 0.60 
Winter (Nov-Feb) kPa 0.45 0.70 
 
**Sulphur , Total ³ 
  
mg/kg  
-  
50 UAE.S GSO ISO 20846, 
UAE.S GSO ISO 20847, 
UAE.S GSO ISO 20884, 
ASTM D7039, D5453, D2622,   
Allowed Oxygenate:  
MTBE/ ETBE/TAME (If added) Vol. % 
 - 15 UAE.S GSO ISO 22854, 
UAE.S GSO ASTM D4815,   
UAE.S GSO ASTM D5845 
TV/L 20 (Summer)                                                                   °C Report UAE.S GSO 1086, ASTM D5188  
Aromatics Vol. % - 40 UAE.S GSO ISO 22854 
UAE.S GSO ISO 3837 
UAE.S GSO ASTM D1319,  
ASTM D5580,   
Benzene Vol. % - 1.5 UAE.S GSO ISO 22854 
UAE.S GSO ASTM D 1319 
ASTM D5580, D3606  
Olefins Vol. % - 10.0 UAE.S GSO ISO 22854 
UAE.S GSO ISO 3837 
ASTM D1319, D6550    
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UAE STANDARD                                                   UAE.S 5018: 2016  
10 
  
  
Annex 2 
 
 
       References 
 
1-  EN 228:2012 Automotive fuels - Unleaded petrol - Requirements 
and test methods. 
 
2- Worldwide Fuel Charter.    
Fifth Edition Sept. 2013 
 
3- ASTM D4814 Standard Specification for Automotive Spark-
Ignition Engine Fuel. 
 
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