RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is emerging as the Middle East’s leading force in electric vehicle adoption and manufacturing as governments across the region accelerate efforts to cut oil dependence, strengthen energy security and build domestic clean-tech industries.
According to a report released by the International Energy Agency, EV sales in the Middle East surged to around 75,000 units in 2025, marking a 40 percent year-on-year rise, underscoring the region’s accelerating pivot toward sustainable mobility, even as geopolitical tensions fuel a broader energy crisis.
The report revealed that EV sales grew significantly in the Kingdom and Qatar in 2025, with both nations together representing around 45 percent of regional demand.
In 2025, the UAE remained the region’s largest electric car market, accounting for almost 50 percent of sales. However, its share of the regional market has declined from over 60 percent in 2023 as neighboring markets, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have gained momentum.
This comes as the Kingdom is promoting the adoption of EVs as part of its Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.
