Price Index

Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric 612,900 AEDBMW 7 Series 750e 489,000 AEDZeekr 9X 369,900 AEDToyota Land Cruiser VX 329,000 SARLynk & Co 900 255,000 AEDLexus NX 350h 219,500 SARMercedes-Benz GLA 250 195,000 AEDBYD Seal Design 149,900 AEDJetour T2 1.5T 112,000 SARPorsche Cayenne Turbo Electric 612,900 AEDBMW 7 Series 750e 489,000 AEDZeekr 9X 369,900 AEDToyota Land Cruiser VX 329,000 SARLynk & Co 900 255,000 AEDLexus NX 350h 219,500 SARMercedes-Benz GLA 250 195,000 AEDBYD Seal Design 149,900 AEDJetour T2 1.5T 112,000 SAR

Thursday 1 October 2026 — 19 Rabi al-Thani 1448العربية

Last updated 09:42 Gulf time
Dubai desk

Breaking08:30BYD sales rise 17% in September as exports more than double

Latest

Everything the Gulf Auto newsroom has published, newest first, with the source and date of every story.

102 stories in this section

14:40

The Jeddah waterfront in Saudi Arabia

Data & Rankings

Saudi Arabia versus the UAE: two markets falling at the same rate and differing in everything else

A table comparing the size and direction of the two markets, how concentrated the lead is in each, and where Chinese marques sit.

Best Selling Cars Blog · 1 October · 5 min read

13:20

Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai

Data & Rankings

UAE best sellers: Jetour and BYD inside the top ten as the market falls 23%

Two tables covering the leading marques and models in the UAE market in August 2026, in a market totalling 160,210 vehicles for the year so far.

Best Selling Cars Blog · 1 October · 5 min read

13:05

A Jetour T2 sports utility vehicle

Data & Rankings

The Outlander tops UAE models with a 623% jump, and three Chinese models make the list

The Mitsubishi Outlander takes first place with an 8.9% share, while the Jetour T2, G700 and MG 3 appear among August’s best sellers.

Best Selling Cars Blog · 1 October · 4 min read

12:50

Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai

Data & Rankings

Toyota holds the UAE lead with a 21% share despite a 31% decline

The long-standing leader lost a third of its August sales while Mitsubishi rose 123% and Jetour and BYD entered the top five.

Best Selling Cars Blog · 1 October · 4 min read

12:10

A Haval car showroom

Great Wall Motor falls 14% at home and bets on the Gulf

GWM recorded 114,944 vehicles in September, down 13.99% and its sharpest decline since January 2025, while its Haval marque keeps growing in Saudi Arabia.

CnEVPost · 1 October · 5 min read

11:15

A Changan Deepal S7 electric car

Huawei’s alliance falls 29% even as the smart driving race intensifies

The HIMA alliance posted the sharpest decline among September’s manufacturers at 29.15%, in a market where smart driving systems have moved from a differentiator to standard equipment.

CnEVPost · 1 October · 5 min read

11:05

An XPeng P7 electric car

XPeng hits its 2026 monthly high and builds on its Gulf network

XPeng delivered 41,256 vehicles in September, its highest month this year despite a slight annual decline, with an established UAE presence through Ali & Sons.

CnEVPost · 1 October · 5 min read

10:30

The Doha Corniche in Qatar

Qatar Grand Prix weekend guide: what happens at Lusail from Friday to Sunday

The race is scheduled for 2–4 October at Lusail International Circuit under lights — here is what happens on each of the three days, and what sets this circuit apart.

Formula 1 · 1 October · 5 min read

10:20

A Xiaomi SU7 electric car

Xiaomi passes 40,000 cars in September and prepares for Europe in 2027

Xiaomi exceeded 40,000 deliveries in September to reach 286,475 for the year so far, about 52% of its 550,000 annual target.

CnEVPost · 1 October · 5 min read

09:35

A Leapmotor C10

Leapmotor lifts deliveries 58.5% for a third month above 100,000 cars

Leapmotor delivered a record 105,656 vehicles in September, cementing its place among the fastest-growing Chinese marques this year.

CnEVPost · 1 October · 4 min read

09:10

A Tesla Model Y at a motor show

Tesla registrations rise across key European markets in September

Registrations climbed in France, Norway and Sweden, extending Tesla’s European recovery as demand for electric cars keeps growing.

Reuters · 1 October · 4 min read

09:05

A fuel pump at a filling station

Guide: does your car actually need 98 octane?

The gap between grades in the Gulf is sometimes double. This guide sets out when the higher grade is a necessity and when it is spending without return.

Gulf Auto — editorial · 1 October · 5 min read

08:30

A BYD Seal electric car at a motor show

BYD sales rise 17% in September as exports more than double

BYD sold 463,561 vehicles worldwide in September and its overseas shipments rose 153.9%, confirming exports as the Chinese group’s main engine of growth.

Reuters · 1 October · 4 min read

08:10

A fuel pump at a filling station

Data & Rankings

Gulf fuel prices compared: more than double the difference in common grades

A table comparing petrol and diesel prices between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and why engine choices differ between the two markets.

Khaleej Times / Saudi Gazette · 1 October · 4 min read

08:05

A Geely Galaxy car

September ranking: BYD leads while Zeekr and Leapmotor break their records

September 2026 data for sixteen Chinese manufacturers shows a market splitting into sharp risers and sharp fallers, with BYD on top at 463,561 vehicles.

CnEVPost · 1 October · 5 min read

07:40

Zeekr doubles sales and begins shipping the 9X to the UAE at AED 369,900

Zeekr delivered 37,216 vehicles in September, up 103.85%, a sixth consecutive monthly record, as 9X shipments to the UAE market begin.

CnEVPost · 1 October · 6 min read

07:20

A fuel pump at a filling station

Markets & Prices

UAE fuel prices in October 2026 reach their highest since 2022

Super 98 at AED 4.40, Special 95 at 4.28, E-Plus 91 at 4.21 and diesel at 4.80 — the price has passed four dirhams a litre for the first time in four years.

Khaleej Times · 1 October · 4 min read

07:15

A racing car on a closed circuit

The 2026 rules: a half-electric power unit, fully sustainable fuel and moveable aero

Formula 1's biggest technical change since 2014 starts this season: the electric side climbs to about 350kW, the MGU-H is gone, and the moveable wing now works front and rear.

FIA · 1 October · 6 min read

17:30

A BMW 3 Series saloon

BMW reveals the new 3 Series in its eighth generation

BMW has unveiled the latest 3 Series, carrying Neue Klasse technology into one of its most important models worldwide.

BMW Group · 30 September · 6 min read

17:20

The grandstands at Bahrain International Circuit

Data & Rankings

The 2026 Gulf motorsport calendar: what ran and what was cancelled

A table covering Dakar, the Formula 1 rounds and the Porsche Carrera Cup, in a season in which the Gulf lost two stops and kept three.

ESPN / Arab News · 30 September · 4 min read

16:40

The Doha skyline in Qatar

Lusail: 5.419km and 16 corners, built for something other than Formula 1

Opened in 2004 for motorcycle racing and added to the Formula 1 calendar in 2021 — and that origin is what explains its flowing character and its severity on tyres.

Lusail International Circuit · 30 September · 5 min read

16:20

A NIO ET5 electric car

NIO returns to monthly growth and builds on its UAE base

NIO delivered 37,408 vehicles in September, up 7.65% and meeting its third-quarter guidance, while running its regional presence through an Abu Dhabi-based joint venture.

CnEVPost · 30 September · 5 min read

14:05

A BMW Group production facility in Germany

BMW commits about €2 billion to building the 3 Series in Germany

The company is investing close to €2 billion across its German plants to prepare for the eighth generation and its new battery systems.

BMW Group · 30 September · 5 min read

14:00

A self-driving vehicle fitted with sensors

Pony.ai secures a Dubai testing permit and targets commercial operation

The third Chinese company to enter the emirate’s autonomous driving market, after deploying driverless test vehicles.

CnEVPost · 30 September · 4 min read

13:50

A Zeekr 9X sports utility vehicle

Data & Rankings

The most powerful in our database: four Chinese cars in the top five

The Zeekr 9X leads with up to 1,400hp and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric is second with 1,156 — and four of the top five are Chinese.

Gulf Auto — data desk · 30 September · 5 min read

11:40

A BMW X5 sports utility vehicle

BMW autumn updates: new X5 and 7 Series variants and more power for the X3 M50

The autumn 2026 update widens the X5 and 7 Series ranges and introduces a stronger X3 M50 xDrive, with new digital features across several models.

BMW Group · 30 September · 5 min read

08:45

An assembly line inside a car plant — illustrative, not a Toyota facility

Toyota plans a $1.34 billion Argentina investment to build an electrified car

The project is the largest single investment in the Argentine car industry, according to the economy minister as reported by Reuters.

Reuters · 30 September · 5 min read

08:20

Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi

Gulf capital in Formula 1: a presence wider than the number of races

Aramco, Qatar Airways, Etihad and Mumtalakat — the region lost two of three rounds on the 2026 calendar, but its share of the sport’s economy did not shrink.

Formula 1 Corporate · 30 September · 5 min read

21:30

Events & Launches

Freelander launches globally from Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi

The British marque developed in partnership between Chery and Jaguar Land Rover chose the UAE as its first international market, revealing the Freelander 8 at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental.

GlobeNewswire · 29 September · 5 min read

16:10

An MG HS sports utility vehicle

Data & Rankings

The Chinese marque map in the Gulf: who distributes what, and where

A table linking ten Chinese marques to their distributors and markets, revealing the dominant pattern in how they enter the region.

Gulf Auto — data desk · 29 September · 5 min read

15:50

A Chevrolet Bolt electric car

GM cuts planned Chevrolet Bolt production as US demand resets

About 35,000 units of the latest Bolt are now expected, far below earlier projections, after federal incentives came to an end.

Reuters · 29 September · 5 min read

14:20

The north grandstand at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi

Yas Marina after the 2021 redesign: 273 metres shorter and five corners fewer

The circuit that opened in 2009 was redrawn in 2021 to 5.281km and 16 corners — and the stated aim was to open up overtaking at the season finale.

Yas Marina Circuit · 29 September · 5 min read

10:30

A Porsche Cayenne Coupé

Data & Rankings

Most and least expensive: Gulf Auto’s models ranked in dollars for comparison

From the Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric at $166,889 to the Jetour T2 at $29,867 — nine models ranked in a single currency.

Gulf Auto — data desk · 29 September · 5 min read

17:00

The north grandstand at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix closes the 2026 season at Yas Marina

The race runs over the weekend of 4 to 6 December as the final round of the season, and remains the standout event on the region’s calendar.

Formula 1 · 28 September · 4 min read

12:30

A Porsche Cayenne Coupé

Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric reaches the UAE with 1,156hp from AED 612,900

The most powerful Cayenne yet makes up to 1,156hp and reaches 100km/h in 2.5 seconds, listed in Dubai from AED 612,900 including VAT.

Porsche UAE · 28 September · 6 min read

11:35

The Kuwait City skyline at night

Data & Rankings

Electric car adoption in the Gulf: the available indicators and what is missing

A table of what has actually been announced about charging and electric fleets in the region, identifying the gaps in the data.

Gulf Auto — data desk · 28 September · 5 min read

15:50

A self-driving vehicle fitted with sensors

Data & Rankings

Gulf robotaxis by the numbers: three operators and two cities

A table of operators, cities and the status of each service, in a region that reached commercial driverless operation ahead of most of the world.

Rest of World · 27 September · 4 min read

15:10

A hall at an international motor show

An eleven-team grid in 2026: Cadillac enters and Audi replaces Sauber

The first expansion of the Formula 1 grid since 2016, and with it a complete redrawing of the power unit supply map — with Saudi Aramco as title partner to one of the teams.

Formula 1 · 27 September · 5 min read

09:20

A NIO ET5 electric car

A researcher’s guide: where car market figures come from and how to read them without being misled

Deliveries are not sales and sales are not registrations, and market share moves when the denominator moves. Six methodological distinctions that separate sound analysis from a recurring error.

Gulf Auto — data desk · 27 September · 7 min read

12:20

The Doha Corniche in Qatar

The Qatar Grand Prix keeps its October date

Doha hosts its round on 2 to 4 October 2026, remaining one of only two Formula 1 stops in the Gulf region this season.

ESPN · 26 September · 3 min read

10:00

An MG HS sports utility vehicle

Six questions before buying a Chinese car in the Gulf

Chinese marques are now a serious option in the region’s markets. These six questions separate a good deal from a decision that costs later.

Gulf Auto — editorial · 26 September · 7 min read

13:40

Yas Island in Abu Dhabi from the air

Race week in Abu Dhabi: what the season finale moves beyond the circuit

Hotels, aviation, entertainment and commercial launches — why the December week on Yas Island is the heaviest of the year in the regional motoring calendar.

Experience Abu Dhabi · 25 September · 5 min read

10:50

Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai

Dubai passes 47,000 electric cars with a network above 2,200 charge points

Dubai’s electric fleet reached 47,944 vehicles by the end of 2025, up 27.9%, while charge points passed 2,200 in early 2026.

EV Infrastructure News · 25 September · 4 min read

11:30

The Jeddah waterfront in Saudi Arabia

Jeddah Corniche: the fastest street circuit on the calendar is absent from 2026

6.174km, 27 corners and the highest average speed of any street circuit — a profile of the track that left this year’s calendar with no replacement round.

Formula 1 · 24 September · 5 min read

11:20

A Xiaomi SU7 electric car

Data & Rankings

China’s best sellers 2025: a small electric car leads and BYD places four models

The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV leads, the Geely Xingyuan jumps 772.6%, and Xiaomi puts two models on the list in its second year.

Best Selling Cars Blog · 24 September · 6 min read

11:05

A Renault Mégane electric car

Renault to invest €600 million in Spain and add electric production

The investment through 2030 covers five new models and a battery assembly line at the Valladolid and Palencia plants.

Reuters · 24 September · 5 min read

09:40

An electric vehicle charging station

Guide: electric or hybrid in Gulf heat? Five questions that settle it

Heat, long distances and charging patterns change the equation in the region from what it is in Europe — and these are the questions that decide it.

Gulf Auto — editorial · 24 September · 6 min read

15:40

King Abdullah Port at King Abdullah Economic City

Ceer sets March 2027 for delivery as the Exobot passes 1,100hp

The two Saudi models will be built at King Abdullah Economic City north of Jeddah, with power approaching that of Lucid’s fastest cars.

Rest of World · 23 September · 4 min read

10:15

A fuel station

Sustainable fuel in Formula 1: what it means for Gulf refineries

The 2026 rules mandate a 100% sustainable fuel that runs in a conventional combustion engine — and that single point is what makes this an industrial file rather than a sporting one.

Saudi Aramco · 23 September · 5 min read

14:15

A white Zeekr 9X on a road at sunset

Events & Launches

Zeekr 9X shipments to the UAE begin with deliveries starting in October

The marque has announced the start of commercial-volume shipments to the UAE market at AED 369,900, with first customer deliveries in October.

China EV Home · 22 September · 4 min read

10:10

A car showroom

Guide: a checklist before buying from a marque new to the market

New marques are arriving in the Gulf at an unprecedented rate. This checklist separates a good offer from an uncalculated risk.

Gulf Auto — editorial · 22 September · 6 min read

09:50

The grandstands at Bahrain International Circuit

Bahrain after leaving the 2026 calendar: what remains at Sakhir

The first circuit to host Formula 1 in the Middle East lost its round this year to Sepang — but its annual programme is wider than a single race.

Bahrain International Circuit · 22 September · 5 min read

09:45

An electric vehicle charging station

Data & Rankings

Electrification passes 65% of Chinese sales: a monthly penetration table for 2026

From 38.6% in January to 65.2% in August — the fastest structural shift in any major car market, with penetration at Chinese marques alone reaching 80.1%.

CarNewsChina · 22 September · 5 min read

10:00

The Riyadh skyline at night

Saudi Arabia’s Ceer unveils its first electric cars ahead of 2027 sales

The Saudi company has shown its first sedan and SUV, preparing to start sales in early 2027 and build a wider regional range.

Reuters · 21 September · 6 min read

08:40

A fuel pump at a filling station

Markets & Prices

Saudi petrol prices: 91 at SAR 2.18 and 95 at 2.33

Aramco’s September 2026 prices keep the gap with the UAE wide in the common grades, while the price of 98 converges between the two markets.

Saudi Gazette · 21 September · 4 min read

13:30

A Lynk & Co 900

Lynk & Co widens its Gulf presence after launching the 900 in the UAE

The marque launched the 900 in the UAE from AED 255,000 alongside its flagship showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road, and plans an Abu Dhabi site in the second half of 2026.

Gasgoo · 20 September · 6 min read

12:00

An electric vehicle charging station

Charging in twenty minutes: what the figure actually means in a Gulf summer

Fast charging figures are measured in ideal conditions. These are the four factors that separate the quoted number from the time you will actually wait.

Gulf Auto — editorial · 20 September · 5 min read

15:15

A Geely Galaxy car

Exports drive growth: SAIC and BYD each pass a million vehicles outside China

SAIC’s international sales reached 1.071 million and BYD’s exports 1.05 million, up 145% — two figures that explain what is happening in Gulf showrooms.

CarNewsChina · 19 September · 5 min read

13:10

The Jeddah waterfront in Saudi Arabia

Cancelling the Bahrain and Saudi rounds cuts the 2026 calendar to 22 races

Bahrain moved to Sepang in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia has no replacement round — leaving the Gulf two stops short of three.

ESPN · 19 September · 4 min read

10:25

An electric vehicle charging station

Data & Rankings

Gulf charging networks by the numbers: targets against reality

A table bringing together the targets of E2GO, EVIQ, ADNOC and Dubai, and measuring the distance between what exists and what has been announced.

EV Infrastructure News · 18 September · 4 min read

13:45

A desert road in Saudi Arabia

EVIQ targets five thousand chargers across a thousand Saudi sites by 2030

The infrastructure company owned by the sovereign fund and the electricity company is building the national network, prioritising the Riyadh–Jeddah desert corridor.

EVIQ · 17 September · 4 min read

13:20

A Mercedes GLA compact crossover

Mercedes starts production of the new GLA with electric and 48-volt hybrid versions

Series production has begun at the Rastatt plant in Germany, with fully electric versions being built now and 48-volt hybrids following later in 2026.

Mercedes-Benz · 17 September · 5 min read

18:30

King Fahd Road in Riyadh

Events & Launches

Jetour reveals the G700 TopFire in Riyadh ahead of its UAE arrival

The regional debut of the flagship’s highest trim took place in the Saudi capital, ahead of its UAE introduction through Elite Group Holding.

Gulf News · 16 September · 4 min read

14:10

A Toyota Land Cruiser of the J300 generation

Data & Rankings

World best sellers 2025: RAV4 and Corolla lead as the Model Y slips

A table of the nine best-selling models worldwide, with a note on where sources disagree about which actually holds first place.

Statista · 16 September · 5 min read

15:40

A Haval car showroom

Haval and Tank lead GWM’s Gulf range, with Ora and Wey on the way

The group is widening its regional line-up with the Haval V7 and Tank 300, the Haval H10 to come, and the Ora and Wey marques preparing to enter the region.

Gulf News · 15 September · 5 min read

09:15

Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai

Data & Rankings

Salik in the cost-of-ownership calculation: what changed in 2026

Variable pricing and the new VAT charge make road tolls a fixed line in the daily Dubai driver’s budget.

Salik · 15 September · 4 min read

12:00

A Tesla Model Y at a motor show

Data & Rankings

China’s electric market shares in 2025: BYD commands 27.2% as Tesla slips to fifth

A table of the top ten marques’ shares in the world’s largest electric market, where BYD alone sells more than twice its nearest rivals.

CnEVPost · 14 September · 5 min read

11:45

Desert terrain at AlUla in Saudi Arabia

Dakar 2026 in Saudi Arabia: fourteen stages from Yanbu to Yanbu

The rally ran from 3 to 17 January through AlUla, Hail, Riyadh, Wadi ad-Dawasir and Bisha, avoiding the Empty Quarter and heading west.

Arab News · 13 September · 4 min read

15:30

A shopping mall in Dubai

Why Chinese companies lead the Gulf robotaxi race

Three Chinese companies operate or test in the UAE while their American rivals stay in their home markets — and the reason is as much regulatory as commercial.

Rest of World · 12 September · 5 min read

11:50

A Lynk & Co 900

Geely targets 640,000 exports in 2026, growth of more than 50%

The group has set an export target above half a million vehicles, accelerating Lynk & Co and Zeekr in the Middle East and Latin America.

EX1000 · 12 September · 5 min read

14:00

A Chery Tiggo 8 sports utility vehicle

The Middle East rises to third place in Chery’s export markets

Chery exported 21,123 vehicles to the Middle East in July, BYD 13,164 and Geely 7,148, making the region the standout growth point in Chinese car exports.

Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute · 11 September · 5 min read

10:40

Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai

Events & Launches

Zeekr opens its redesigned flagship showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road

The new Dubai site has interactive ordering screens, two charging stations, two delivery bays and a hospitality lounge, in partnership with AWR Automotive.

UAE Moments · 11 September · 4 min read

09:30

An electric vehicle charging station

ADNOC opens a sixty-plug charging hub on the Abu Dhabi–Dubai road

The hub at Seih Shuaib on the E11 charges most cars from zero to 80% in about twenty minutes, part of a plan for twenty hubs by 2027.

EV Infrastructure News · 11 September · 4 min read

10:40

A Chery Tiggo 8 sports utility vehicle

Data & Rankings

Chinese marque sales in 2025 against their targets: who beat them and who stumbled

A table comparing ten Chinese marques’ sales with their announced targets — Leapmotor, XPeng and Xiaomi overshoot, while Great Wall reaches a third of its goal.

CarNewsChina · 10 September · 6 min read

18:00

A Porsche 911 GT3 on display

Porsche suspends the 2026/27 Carrera Cup Middle East season

The championship announced the suspension of its activities on 9 September citing current circumstances, leaving a gap in the region’s one-make racing calendar.

Porsche Middle East Newsroom · 9 September · 4 min read

16:45

A BMW 7 Series luxury saloon

The new 7 Series makes its Middle East debut in Dubai

BMW chose Dubai for the first regional showing of its flagship luxury saloon, with design changes, new digital technology and fresh personalisation options.

BMW Middle East · 9 September · 5 min read

14:20

The Abu Dhabi skyline from the Corniche

E2GO targets seventy thousand charge points in the UAE by 2030

The joint venture between TAQA and ADNOC Distribution has set a long-range target many times what the country has today.

EV Infrastructure News · 9 September · 4 min read

15:20

A self-driving vehicle fitted with sensors

What does “level four” autonomy mean, and how does it differ from what is in your car?

The services running in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are level four, while most production car systems stop at level two — and the difference is fundamental, not incremental.

Rest of World · 8 September · 5 min read

12:15

A Mercedes-Benz electric multi-seat vehicle

Mercedes expands the electric VLE range with all-wheel drive and entry trims

The company has added the electric VLE 400 4MATIC and new entry-level versions, with further personalisation options for its luxury people carrier.

Mercedes-Benz · 8 September · 5 min read

11:30

A BYD Seal electric car at a motor show

Data & Rankings

Global automaker ranking 2025: three Chinese groups in the top ten

Toyota leads with 11.32 million vehicles, with BYD sixth, SAIC seventh and Geely ninth — the first time three Chinese groups have made the list together.

CarNewsChina · 8 September · 6 min read

10:15

A Jetour T2 sports utility vehicle

Jetour grows 22.6% in Saudi Arabia and makes Dubai its Gulf hub

The Chery marque sits ninth in the Saudi market with 11,500 vehicles, while building a base in Dubai to cover the rest of the Gulf.

Best Selling Cars Blog · 5 September · 5 min read

10:30

A Lexus NX sports utility vehicle

Lexus unveils the new NX as electrification reshapes its luxury range

Lexus updates one of its most important crossovers as the luxury market shifts to a broader mix of electrified drivetrains.

Lexus / Toyota Global · 1 September · 5 min read

12:15

The north grandstand at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi becomes the first Middle East city to run a commercial driverless robotaxi

WeRide operates the TXAI service on Yas Island, the first level-four service available on the Uber platform outside the United States.

Rest of World · 27 August · 4 min read

11:10

The Riyadh skyline at night

The Saudi showroom race: how Tesla’s arrival changed BYD’s plans

Tesla’s entry into the Saudi market pushed BYD to accelerate from three showrooms to ten, the clearest example yet of electric competition in the Kingdom.

YallaMotor · 21 August · 5 min read

16:30

A self-driving vehicle fitted with sensors

Uber and Baidu launch driverless cars in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim in Dubai

Uber riders in Dubai can now hail fully driverless Apollo Go vehicles, in the world’s first multi-partner autonomous network.

Uber · 20 August · 5 min read

12:40

The Riyadh skyline at night

BYD lifts its Saudi network to ten showrooms

Two new openings in Riyadh and Qassim take BYD’s network in the Kingdom to ten showrooms, having started with just three.

INTLBM · 19 August · 4 min read

14:50

A Chery Tiggo 8 sports utility vehicle

Omoda and Jaecoo bring AI self-parking to the UAE

A system that lets the car manoeuvre itself and search for a free space, offered on selected models in the UAE market.

GCC Business News · 14 August · 4 min read

09:00

King Fahd Road in Riyadh

Data & Rankings

Saudi best sellers: Toyota keeps a third of the market, four Chinese marques in the top ten

A full table of the Kingdom’s ten best-selling marques in the first half of 2026, with their market shares in a market of about 410,000 vehicles.

Best Selling Cars Blog · 14 August · 5 min read

09:50

An MG HS sports utility vehicle

Markets & Prices

Four Chinese marques in Saudi Arabia’s top ten with a 13.4% share

MG, Haval, Jetour and Changan entered the top ten in the first half of 2026 with a combined 13.4% share, in a market down 23.5% overall.

Best Selling Cars Blog · 12 August · 5 min read

10:20

A Jetour T2 sports utility vehicle

Events & Launches

A UAE rental company adds more than 300 Jetour vehicles to its fleet

ART Elite Car Rental is expanding its fleet with Jetour models, the kind of deal that builds a marque’s presence in a way showrooms do not.

Gulf News · 4 August · 4 min read

13:20

An XPeng P7 electric car

Events & Launches

The XPeng P7+ arrives in the UAE from AED 164,000 with twelve-minute charging

The electric fastback reaches the UAE market with an 800-volt architecture and a range of up to 520km, through Gulf Star Motors, part of the Ali & Sons Group.

DubiCars · 28 July · 5 min read

12:40

A car showroom

Events & Launches

iCAUR opens its third UAE showroom in partnership with Gargash

The Chinese marque adds a Sharjah site after Dubai, part of a regional expansion built on established Gulf distribution groups.

DubiCars · 14 July · 4 min read

16:00

King Fahd Road in Riyadh

Events & Launches

Changan launches the second-generation UNI-S in Saudi Arabia and widens its regional presence

The Chinese manufacturer is launching its newest model in the Kingdom as it accelerates expansion across the Middle East and Africa, after thirty years in the region.

GlobeNewswire · 9 July · 4 min read

12:30

A Lucid Air electric car

Lucid prepares its Saudi AMP-2 plant to build the sub-$50,000 Kosmos

The company’s first plant outside the United States is preparing for full production, targeting up to 150,000 vehicles a year by 2029.

Lucid Motors · 8 July · 5 min read

09:50

An industrial and port area in Dubai

Events & Launches

AGMC lays the foundation stone for an integrated Geely facility at Ras Al Khor in Dubai

Geely’s UAE distributor has begun building a facility combining sales and aftersales, a sign of Chinese marques moving from showroom expansion to infrastructure investment.

Motor283 · 2 July · 4 min read

14:30

A shopping mall in Dubai

Events & Launches

Omoda and Jaecoo open their seventh UAE showroom as sales pass a million

The new site is at Oasis Mall on Sheikh Zayed Road, and the two Chery marques passed one million cumulative vehicles in April 2026.

Gulf Business · 26 June · 4 min read

19:00

The north grandstand at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi

Events & Launches

Zeekr marks five years with a track day at Yas Marina Circuit

More than two hundred owners and media on the Grand Prix circuit in Abu Dhabi, with the first regional appearance of the Zeekr 9X and drift and drag runs.

YallaMotor · 24 June · 5 min read

10:00

King Fahd Road in Riyadh

Events & Launches

Tesla opens its Riyadh centre and widens its presence in the Kingdom

The centre carries the Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck, following the company’s entry into the Saudi market and pop-up stores in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

Arab News · 24 June · 4 min read

11:00

Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai

Events & Launches

Great Wall Motor opens its largest showroom outside China on Sheikh Zayed Road

The new Dubai site displays more than ten models from Haval, Tank and Poer, opened by Saeed Juma Al Naboodah Group, the marque’s UAE distributor.

Gulf News · 19 June · 4 min read

11:30

A Jetour T2 sports utility vehicle

Events & Launches

Jetour launches its certified pre-owned programme in the UAE

Elite Group Holding is introducing Jetour Trusted Preowned, addressing the weakest point facing Chinese marques: resale value.

Gulf News · 10 June · 4 min read

10:15

The Abu Dhabi skyline from the Corniche

Li Auto enters the UAE and Saudi Arabia through Al Fahim and Naghi

The Chinese company has signed distribution agreements for its L Series range in the two Gulf markets, its first expansion outside China.

Gasgoo · 29 April · 4 min read

12:00

A desert road in Dubai near the launch venue

Events & Launches

The Jetour G700 makes its global debut from the Dubai desert with 904hp

More than a thousand guests at Bab Al Shams Arena under the banner “Beyond the Horizon”, for the launch of a hybrid making 1,135Nm with a range of up to 1,400km.

DubiCars · 21 November · 6 min read