UAE ranks first in the GCC and 22nd globally for EV readiness as charging network grows to around 2,800 points, Arthur D. Little report shows.
The UAE has emerged as the Gulf’s leading market for electric vehicle readiness, ranking 22nd globally as EVs accounted for around 9 per cent of new vehicle sales in 2025, according to a new report by Arthur D. Little.
The country scored 53 points in the 2026 Global Electric Mobility Readiness Index, placing it ahead of other GCC countries among the 31 markets assessed.
The report found that the global transition to electric mobility is increasingly being shaped not only by advances in vehicle technology, but also by the broader EV ecosystem — including charging infrastructure, affordability, regulation, energy availability and consumer readiness.
EVs account for 9% of UAE new car sales
Electric vehicles represented around 9 per cent of all new vehicle sales in the UAE in 2025, according to the report.
Battery electric vehicles accounted for around 6 to 8 per cent of new vehicle sales in the UAE, while plug-in hybrids represented a further 2.5 per cent.
The country’s charging network has also expanded to approximately 2,800 charging points, including around 1,250 DC chargers and 350 high-power charging units.
As part of its long-term mobility goals, the UAE aims for electric and hybrid vehicles to make up 50 per cent of vehicles on its roads by 2050. Dubai, meanwhile, is targeting an EV share of more than 15 per cent of its vehicle fleet by 2030.
UAE tops Gulf markets
Joseph Salem, Partner and Middle East lead for Travel, Transportation and Hospitality at Arthur D. Little, said the UAE’s ranking reflects a market with increasing visibility and a clear direction for the development of its EV ecosystem.
He said electric vehicle adoption is gathering momentum, supported by continued investment in charging infrastructure and the country’s long-term mobility ambitions.
The next phase, he added, will require further alignment between charging infrastructure, vehicle availability and consumer needs to translate the current momentum into wider EV adoption.
China and Norway lead globally
Globally, China and Norway were the only two markets to score above 100 on the index, indicating that electric vehicles have reached broad readiness parity with traditional internal combustion engine vehicles in those countries.
China topped the rankings with a score of 106, followed by Norway at 103, Singapore at 96 and the Netherlands at 90.
Arthur D. Little said China’s leading position is supported by a comprehensive EV ecosystem that combines advanced vehicle technology, large-scale manufacturing, strong battery and component supply chains, software capabilities, charging infrastructure, favourable energy economics, incentives and regulation.
Different countries, different paths
The report found that the global transition to electric mobility is progressing at varying speeds across different markets.
Türkiye, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Brazil are among the countries gaining momentum, supported by different combinations of affordability, charging infrastructure, industrial policies and domestic companies.
Arthur D. Little said battery-electric vehicles are unlikely to expand at the same pace in every market. Plug-in hybrids and range-extended electric vehicles could therefore continue to serve as transitional technologies in some countries.
Alexander Krug, Partner in Arthur D. Little’s Automotive and Manufacturing Goods practice, said the global shift to electric mobility would not happen “at one speed or through one pathway”, adding that successful companies will need to understand the specific characteristics and ecosystems of individual markets.
