Dubai: The UAE has ranked first among GCC countries and 22nd globally in electric mobility readiness, scoring 53 points in Arthur D. Little’s Global Electric Mobility Readiness Index (GEMRIX) 2026.According to the report, electric vehicles accounted for around 9 per cent of new vehicle sales in the UAE in 2025, with battery electric vehicles making up approximately 6 to 8 per cent, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles represented about 2.5 per cent of sales.The report also highlighted the rapid expansion of the country’s charging infrastructure, which now includes approximately 2,800 charging points, comprising around 1,250 direct-current chargers and 350 high-power charging units.The UAE has set ambitious long-term targets for sustainable mobility, aiming for electric and hybrid vehicles to account for 50 per cent of vehicles on the country’s roads by 2050. Dubai has also set a target for electric vehicles to make up more than 15 per cent of its vehicle fleet by 2030.Arthur D. Little said the transition to electric mobility increasingly depends on the development of a comprehensive ecosystem that includes charging infrastructure, government policies, incentives, supply chains and energy systems, rather than vehicle technology alone.The GEMRIX 2026 study assessed 31 markets across five key categories: macroeconomic conditions, EV market competitiveness, customer readiness, public charging infrastructure, and total cost of ownership and regulation.Globally, China topped the rankings with 106 points, followed by Norway with 103 points. They were the only two countries to exceed the 100-point benchmark, indicating near parity between electric vehicles and conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. Singapore ranked third with 96 points, followed by the Netherlands with 90 points.Joseph Salem, Partner and Middle East Lead for the Travel, Transportation and Hospitality practice at Arthur D. Little, said the UAE’s ranking reflects growing momentum in the country’s EV market and a clear commitment to developing an integrated ecosystem that supports electric mobility.He added that continued investment in charging infrastructure and ambitious sustainability goals demonstrate the importance of aligning infrastructure, vehicle availability and customer needs to accelerate EV adoption.Alexander Krug, Partner in Arthur D. Little’s Automotive and Manufacturing Goods practice, said the transition to electric mobility will vary across markets, with countries that successfully build integrated ecosystems likely to benefit earliest from emerging opportunities.
