Adnoc banks on new neighbourhood fuel stations

Few things are more frustrating on a car journey than a flashing fuel warning light when there isn’t a petrol station in sight. It’s a scenario that many motorists have experienced. But thanks to an ambitious construction plan by Adnoc Distribution, those anxious waits for the next fuel stop will soon be lessened in the UAE.

The UAE’s largest fuel and convenience retailer unveiled the first Adnoc ‘On the go’ station at the beginning of this year at Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi. The company has since opened many Adnoc ‘On the go’ stations across the UAE, and mostly are located in regions that have previously been underserviced due to lack of space or a difficulty in constructing a traditional service station.

The Abu-Dhabi-based listed company has more than 400 petrol stations across the UAE. It has 17 stations in Dubai but this tally is expected to reach between 25-30 stations by the end of this year.

Smart construction

The speed of Adnoc Distribution’s ‘On the go’ rollout is thanks to the creative, modular design of the stations, meaning they can be built in less than four months compared with up to nine months for a conventional Adnoc Distribution station.

“Our smaller neighbourhood stations require less than 1,000sqm of land, so the facilities are relatively simple to install and relocate, even in dense urban environments or more remote regions,” says Saeed Nasser Al Ahbabi, chief business and commercial support officer at Adnoc Distribution.

“They are also easily adaptable to suit community requirements, whether that be in type of fuel offered or the convenience store experience,” he continues. “The smaller land plots and construction methods also have a smaller environmental impact of construction, while the finished stations require around 50 per cent less power to run.”

Customers’ experience

Most importantly, those anxious waits for the next station will soon be a thing of the past, which is very welcome news for UAE motorists.

Customers who have experienced “Adnoc On the go” stations over the past few months seem to enjoy the experience so far. Mohammed Qadas describes the new station format as ‘practical’ and prefers ‘Adnoc On the go’ over traditional stations due to their smaller size, easy access and quick service, as well as their convenient locations in local neighbourhoods.

Ipek Narbay is a new visitor to the “Adnoc On the go” station, but found the design more appealing and sustainable than traditional stations. Narbay says that her preference stems mainly from the convenience that ‘Adnoc On the go’ stations offer due to their close proximity within residential communities and compact size.

Abdullah is another customer who enjoys visiting ‘Adnoc On the go’ at his local neighbourhood. He is especially fond of the Adnoc Oasis shopping experience at the stations where he gets to order his needs using a tablet and receive them at the comfort of his car seat and withour the need to leave the vehicle.

Safer service

As well as not having to travel so far to refuel, Adnoc Distribution customers will also find a range of services adapted to their requirements. ‘Adnoc On the go’ stations utilise the latest digital technologies to ensure the wellbeing of consumers, Al Ahbabi explains.

“Providing a convenient and safe service has always been our highest priority, particularly now, as consumers are much more aware of how they choose to interact. ‘Adnoc On the go’ stations cater to this demand, by offering a seamless retail experience. This is not only due to their strategic locations, but also through the digital options on offer.”

Al Ahbabi explains how users can shop at Adnoc Oasis stores from the comfort and safety of their own vehicles, ordering on a tablet. They can then avail of contactless payment options, including through the Adnoc Distribution app, and collect their items from the drive-thru. This limits contact and provides an enhanced consumer experience, which will continue to be of value in a post-Covid-19 world.

Growth plans

The expansion of services by Adnoc Distribution is part of a wider push to continually offer customers an enhanced experience. As well as the opening of more ‘Adnoc On the go’ stations in 2020, the fuel and convenience retailer is continuing to grow its traditional stations network in the UAE, and will upgrade of all existing Adnoc Oasis convenience stores by the end of 2021, to ensure they better meet the needs of today’s customer.

“As the only fuel retailer to service all seven emirates, our plan to roll out ‘Adnoc On the go’ neighbourhood stations is firmly on track, despite the challenges of recent months,” says Al Ahbabi. “It is vital that all businesses and individuals have convenient access to fuel and necessities, as the UAE economy and society continues to rebound from Covid-19.”

What is most vital to the success of these plans, he concludes, is that all Adnoc Distribution stations evolve to reflect current consumer demands, whether that be location, contactless payment, or in car ordering from the convenience store.

“Adnoc On the go’ stations are fast to construct, take up less space and offer fast fuel and retail convenience on or off the beaten track,” concludes Al Ahbabi. “We believe this is exactly what our customers want, and we are very happy to be able to meet these needs.”

— muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com