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As of 2024, the United Arab Emirates had the most electric vehicle charging stations among the Middle East and North African countries, with 261 stations. For comparison, Saudi Arabia had less than half the number of charging stations present in the UAE.

Challenges to EV adoption in the UAE

The widespread adoption of the electric vehicles depends largely on infrastructure, like charging stations or grid connections, but also on price and availability. To illustrate the latter, the number of EV models available in the United Arab Emirates was 56, much smaller than 731 different models offered by internal combustion engine alternatives. Price range remains another hindrance on the road to higher sales, with most of the models offered in the country being targeted at higher-income consumers. Despite these obstacles, the share of electric vehicles in the country was forecast to reach a quarter of the total annual car sales by 2035.

EV preferences in the Middle East

Electric vehicle adoption in the Middle East is in its early stages. Customers have relatively high expectations when it comes to electric vehicle travel range in the region, with 43 percent of the customers expecting an EV range between 500 and 700 kilometers. On the other hand, a third of the customers surveyed in the region said that they were willing to pay a slightly higher price for EVs, relative to internal combustion engine ones. Battery life and purchase price are the two most important purchasing criteria when deciding on an electric vehicle in the region.