Mohammad Al Qadi, another resident, said the situation has not changed at all and although he did not see any vehicles left abandoned by the side of the road, the problem continues.

"I stopped filling my car in Sharjah and prefer to have it done in Dubai while on my way to work. This problem is getting ridiculous and out of control, and it is about time the authorities did something to solve it."

Some stations have opened, but the majority remain closed despite a 48-hour deadline given by the Sharjah Executive Council last Wednesday to provide an explanation and resolution of the shortage.

When contacted Khalid Hadi, spokesperson for the Enoc Group, the parent company of Enoc and Eppco, did not respond.

The ostensible reason given by Enoc for the closure of 82 petrol stations across Sharjah and the northern emirates has been due to maintenance and upgrading.

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