EV charging in MENA enters acceleration phase

While the region still ranks low on overall EV penetration – just 4 percent of new car sales in 2024 – the foundation for growth is being laid through top-down investment and integration into broader national transformation plans. That includes Saudi Vision 2030, the UAE’s Net Zero strategy, and smart city frameworks in Doha and Dubai.

“EV charging is a key part of national transformation agendas for numerous nations in the Middle East,” the Roland Berger report states, noting how it is being embedded into “smart city planning, luxury real estate, and Vision 2030 targets.”

How does the MENA region compare?

MENA is still a low-penetration market in global terms. EVs accounted for just 4 percent of new car sales in 2024 across the region, up from 2 percent in 2023. However, countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are now seeing the fastest year-on-year growth in the Index, albeit from a low base.

This contrasts with more mature regions like Europe or China, where EV uptake is stabilising or even declining in some markets. The Index shows that while sales penetration remains low in the Gulf, charging infrastructure is expanding quickly and user satisfaction is high.

“Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are all still in the early stages of electrification and remain near the bottom of our rankings. However, each market has seen its score rise as progress begins to accelerate,” the report notes.

A focus on infrastructure over volume

Rather than waiting for consumer demand to rise organically, MENA governments are prioritising infrastructure as a catalyst. In Saudi Arabia, the Public Investment Fund is backing national providers Electromin and EVIQ to roll out a country-wide charging network, working with local OEMs such as Lucid and Ceer. China’s BYD has also joined the ecosystem to support charging infrastructure development.

In the UAE, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is expanding its EV Green Charger initiative, aiming for more than 1,000 public chargers by the end of 2025. Dubai currently offers more than 700 public chargers across malls, highways, and key residential areas.

“Public-private partnerships drive high-speed charging at malls, highways, and residential towers, with 150–350 kW chargers becoming the norm,” the report explains.

The region’s existing grid resilience is a strategic advantage. High energy availability and reliable grid capacity allow for rapid installation of high-powered charging without destabilising electricity supply.

Drivers and charging preferences

The Roland Berger survey reveals that most EV users in the GCC drive frequently, often for long distances. In MENA, 57 percent of users reported driving 10,000 to 20,000 kilometres annually, and a further 25 percent drive more than 20,000 kilometres per year. That figure is higher than the global average.

This makes charging infrastructure a practical concern rather than a luxury. Despite 58 percent of Gulf drivers having access to private home charging, almost half of total charging in the region is still conducted away from home – one of the highest shares globally.

Shared chargers in apartment buildings, retail centres, and highway stations are widely used. In Saudi Arabia, for example, BEV users like Omar (profiled in the report) typically charge at work, in shared residential garages, or on intercity highways.

Public charging sentiment is strong

MENA countries rank highly in terms of user satisfaction with public charging. In the survey, 94 percent of Saudi Arabian users and 95 percent of UAE users reported being either “very satisfied” or “quite satisfied” with the public charging experience.

In terms of perceived improvements, 97 percent of Qatari users and 95 percent of Saudi users said public charging is becoming more convenient. That compares favourably with the global average of 89 percent, and far exceeds sentiment in more mature but slower-moving markets like Japan (63 percent) or Italy (just under 50 percent).

Charging speed satisfaction is also high. In Qatar and Saudi Arabia, 59 percent of users say public charging is fast enough. This matches or exceeds satisfaction rates in the US and Germany, where networks are older but more expansive.

“Countries in MENA and Asia have made the biggest strides, especially relatively young markets such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the GCC states,” the report adds.

Home charging access and trends

Access to home charging is improving but remains a constraint for some MENA drivers. While 52 percent of users have their own private charger, a further 19 percent rely on shared semi-private chargers, such as those in residential buildings. Nearly one in three drivers has no access to home charging at all, according to the Index survey.

That makes public infrastructure even more critical, especially in densely populated areas. At the same time, MENA countries are leaders in installing high-powered home chargers. In Saudi Arabia, 35 percent of home chargers have a power rating of 22 kW or higher, the highest rate globally.

Smart charging technologies are gaining ground. Around 22 percent of home chargers in MENA have price-based optimisation or time-of-use scheduling features, comparable to levels in Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Battery swapping and future formats

The Roland Berger study found that 69 percent of MENA EV users are willing to try battery swapping – a higher level than in Europe (48 percent) or North America (50 percent). The appeal is strongest among urban residents without reliable access to home charging, and among fleet operators who prioritise uptime over charging duration.

This opens opportunities for new formats to emerge in the Gulf, especially as OEMs and governments seek to diversify charging methods. While battery swapping is not yet mainstream, interest levels suggest that user openness could help support pilot deployments in the near term.

Price perceptions and barriers

Perception of public charging costs is generally favourable in the region. The percentage of users who said public charging was “more expensive than expected” was 26 percent in MENA, below the global average of 33 percent and well below Europe’s 41 percent.

Still, challenges remain. Infrastructure gaps outside major cities, inconsistent amenities at charging points, and occasional compatibility issues with different EV models were cited as persistent issues in the Index.

The top two complaints from MENA respondents mirror global trends: charging is still too slow in some cases (cited by 47 percent), and infrastructure availability could be better (45 percent). The call for faster chargers, clearer availability data, and more strategically placed stations remains strong.

The road ahead for MENA’s EV market

What’s clear from the latest Index is that MENA countries are not waiting for demand to catch up. They are building infrastructure ahead of the curve and positioning themselves as regional leaders in EV readiness.

Government coordination, private sector partnerships, and integration with smart city plans are giving the region a structural advantage. While EV adoption is still in its early phase, the combination of long-distance driving habits, strong energy systems, and high satisfaction with public infrastructure suggests that the region is poised for rapid growth.

“Despite their low EV sales penetration, these countries are some of the most dynamic when it comes to infrastructure expansion and user satisfaction,” said Jack Zhuang, Principal at Roland Berger’s Shanghai office.

As the shift from early adopters to mainstream users accelerates, the region’s commitment to building charging capacity first may turn out to be its biggest strength.

For a more in-depth look at the global picture, check out our story here.