The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is continuing to steer towards a future of sustainable and zero or low-emission mobility through ramping up its efforts in providing an extensive public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
As the demand for EVs continues to grow, the UAE is stepping up its response to facilitating the transition to electric vehicles.
With an impressive projected annual growth rate of 30% from 2022 to 2028, the UAE’s commitment to EV adoption is evident from the rapidly growing public EV charging infrastructure. From a count of 620 charging points last year, the country is expected to increase this number to over 1,000 within this year.
Adnoc Distribution, a leading UAE fuel retailer with a vast network of 500 service stations, is set to fast-track the deployment of EV charging points, particularly targeting motorway service stations that connect Abu Dhabi with major urban centres like Dubai, Al Ain, and the Al Dhafra region. This focus is in direct response to the needs of commuters regularly travelling between these areas.
In a notable collaboration, Adnoc Distribution has partnered with the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) to establish E2GO, a joint venture poised to dominate the public EV charging domain in Abu Dhabi. With an ambitious target to install approximately 70,000 charging points in the capital, E2GO represents a significant leap towards meeting the surging demand for EV infrastructure, necessitating an estimated investment of $200 million.
Parallel to these developments, the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA), in collaboration with BEEAH, is expanding the Emirate’s EV charging network. This initiative aims to place hundreds of chargers across strategic locations, including the city centre, commercial zones, and the extensive motorway network.
Adding to the UAE’s charging infrastructure is Yas Mall on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, now the largest single EV charging hub in the country. With 30 new chargers augmenting the existing 10, the mall’s parking facilities offer a total of 40 charging points, including 12 Superchargers dedicated to Tesla models, thus setting a new benchmark for EV charging stations in the region.
Yas Island is now home to the largest EV charging station in the country, with a total of 40 charging points, including 12 Tesla superchargers.
Dubai, not to be outdone, has pledged to establish over 1,000 public EV charging stations by 2025, with an ambitious goal of reaching 10,000 by 2030.
In a significant expansion of its remit, the technology and telecoms company, e& (formerly known as Etisalat Group) launched the Charge3Go EV charging network, aiming to establish charging stations nationwide.
Another new UAE initiative is the Emirates Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Co which was announced as part of 10 new projects at the UN Climate Conference held in Dubai at the end of 2023, all aimed at accomplishing the Emirates’ recently established environmental targets.
In an ambitious move to bolster cross-border EV mobility, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI) is developing the EV GCC Corridor. This visionary project aims to ensure the availability of fast-charging stations at the borders of Saudi Arabia and Oman, thus facilitating seamless EV travel across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States.
Al-Futtaim Group also announced last year that it is committed to advancing the infrastructure for sustainable transportation in the UAE by installing 10% of the UAE’s electric vehicle charging stations within the same timeframe.
It is also worth mentioning that beyond electric mobility, the UAE is also exploring alternative fuel options. Adnoc is venturing into biofuels, supplying B20 biofuel made from waste cooking oil to its business customers and transitioning its heavy vehicle fleet to biofuels. Furthermore, the UAE is investigating hydrogen mobility, encompassing the production and export of hydrogen fuel, along with the development of local distribution infrastructure and filling stations.
The UAE’s relentless investments and efforts to dramatically expand its EV infrastructure at an extraordinary pace, not only affirms its commitment to sustainable mobility but also its position as a leader in zero or low-emission transport in the GCC region.
