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This paper presents an in-depth numerical analysis of spatial fractional advection–diffusion equations (FADE) utilizing the finite element method (FEM). A traditional Galerkin finite element formulation of the pure fractional diffusion equation without advection may yield numerical oscillations in the solution depending on the fractional derivative order. These oscillations are similar to those that may arise in the integer-order advection–diffusion equation when using the Galerkin FEM. In a Galerkin formulation of a FADE, these oscillations are further compounded by the presence of the advection term, which we show can be characterized by a fractional element Peclet number that takes into account the fractional order of the diffusion term. To address this oscillatory behavior, a Petrov–Galerkin method is formulated using a fractional stabilization parameter to eliminate the oscillatory behavior arising from both the fractional diffusion and advection terms. A compact formula for an optimal fractional stabilization parameter is developed through a minimization of the residual of the nodal solution. Steady state and transient one-dimensional cases of the pure fractional diffusion and fractional advection–diffusion equations are implemented to demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]