ع
Arthur D. Little’s 2026 Global Electric Mobility Readiness Index placed the UAE 22nd out of 31 markets with a score of 53 points, the highest among GCC countries included in the assessment. China led the ranking with 106 points followed by Norway on 103, the only two markets to exceed the 100-point threshold that signals parity between electric vehicles and internal combustion engine models. Singapore ranked third with 96 points while the Netherlands stood fourth on 90, according to the management consultancy’s latest edition of the study.
The report by Arthur D. Little found that electric models accounted for nearly 9 percent of new vehicle sales in the UAE during 2025, with battery electric vehicles comprising 6 to 8 percent and plug-in hybrids adding roughly 2.5 percent. Public charging infrastructure has expanded to approximately 2,800 points nationwide, including 1,250 DC chargers and 350 high-power units. The UAE maintains a national target for half of all vehicles on its roads to be electric or hybrid by 2050, the consultancy’s data shows.
Arthur D. Little’s assessment examined five core dimensions across the 31 markets: macro factors, EV market and competition, customer readiness, public charging infrastructure, and total cost of ownership together with regulation. A score of 100 represents broad market readiness parity between EVs and traditional vehicles. The 2026 index highlighted how ecosystem factors rather than vehicle technology alone now drive differences in adoption rates across countries, the report stated.
Joseph Salem, partner and head of travel and transportation at Arthur D. Little Middle East, described the UAE result as evidence of a maturing EV ecosystem with growing visibility and strategic direction. Salem noted in the accompanying analysis that sustained policy support and infrastructure growth have positioned the country ahead of its Gulf neighbours. The index drew on 2025 sales data and current charging network figures to compile its rankings.
Several European and Asian markets demonstrated stronger alignment across infrastructure, incentives and consumer economics than larger economies such as the United States, which placed 25th, according to Arthur D. Little figures. The consultancy observed that Chinese original equipment manufacturers are expanding into emerging markets where affordability and local supply chains outweigh traditional brand preferences. The UAE’s performance reflects continued regulatory and investment efforts within the broader GCC push toward lower-emission transport.
