Tesla has opened orders for its Cybertruck in Qatar, making it the third Gulf state to gain access to the angular electric pickup, after Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in March 2026, with pricing set at QAR 384,990 (approximately $106,000) for the All-Wheel Drive variant and QAR 434,990 (around $119,000) for the Cyberbeast performance model. Customers can place orders directly through Tesla’s website, continuing the company’s preference for direct sales over traditional dealership networks.
The move forms part of Tesla’s broader strategy to expand beyond North America and offset weakening demand in established markets such as the US and China, where competition among EV manufacturers has intensified sharply. The Gulf, with its government-backed infrastructure investment and ambitious decarbonisation targets, presents an opportunity Tesla appears keen to exploit.
Why is Tesla prioritising the Gulf?
Qatar joins Saudi Arabia and the UAE in what has become Tesla’s most concentrated Middle Eastern push to date. The company launched in Saudi Arabia earlier this year following a diplomatic and commercial reset after years of strained relations with the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund. That launch, which featured both the Cybertruck and an updated Model Y, drew significant local interest.
Since then, Tesla has moved quickly to install Supercharger stations across Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. The resulting charging network is now among the densest Tesla operates outside Europe, a critical foundation for attracting buyers in a region where range anxiety remains a genuine concern given the distances involved and extreme summer temperatures.
Gulf governments have been pushing electric vehicle adoption through infrastructure spending, battery assembly projects, and workforce training programmes. National strategies such as Vision 2030 have created policy environments that favour EV manufacturers willing to invest in local presence. Tesla’s expansion aligns neatly with these priorities.
Can the Cybertruck sustain Tesla’s growth?
Global Cybertruck production has exceeded 46,000 units since late 2023, with a record quarter reported in Q3 2025. Much of that surge was driven by American buyers rushing to claim the federal EV tax credit before it expired in September. With that incentive now gone, overseas markets like the Gulf take on greater importance for sustaining sales momentum.
Competition is also mounting. Chinese manufacturers such as BYD and Zeekr are expanding aggressively, while Lucid, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has its own regional ambitions. The Gulf market, though still small in absolute terms, is increasingly contested.
Tesla’s diversification into the region comes at a time when its dominance in key markets is under pressure. In China, local brands have eroded Tesla’s market share, whilst in the US, a broader slowdown in EV adoption has dampened growth expectations. The Gulf, with its combination of wealth, government support, and relatively light competition, offers a counterbalance.
What next for Tesla?
Tesla is building out the supporting infrastructure needed to make ownership viable. Pop-up showrooms, service centres, and the expanding Supercharger network are all part of the equation. For early adopters, after-sales service and charging availability will be just as important as the vehicle itself.
The Cybertruck’s styling, divisive elsewhere, may find a more receptive audience in the Gulf, where bold design statements and large vehicles are more culturally embedded. Whether that translates into sustained sales remains to be seen.
Deliveries are still more than a year away, giving Tesla time to refine its regional operations and competitors time to respond. The coming months will clarify whether the Gulf can become a meaningful growth driver for Tesla, or whether it remains a niche market serving wealthy early adopters.
For now, the Cybertruck’s arrival in Qatar marks another step in Tesla’s attempt to reposition the Gulf as a strategic priority rather than an afterthought. How that strategy plays out will depend on infrastructure rollout, competitive pressure, and whether buyers embrace electric pickups in meaningful numbers.
