ADNOC Distribution has opened a large-scale electric vehicle charging hub at Saih Shuaib on the E11 highway, the main arterial route between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The site brings 60 high-speed charging bays to one of the UAE’s busiest intercity corridors, addressing a long-standing gap in highway charging coverage.
The company says the hub can charge “most EVs from 0 to 80% in approximately 20 minutes”, a benchmark that targets range anxiety on longer journeys. It also marks the launch of a new “The Hub by ADNOC” format, combining fast charging with retail and rest facilities for commuters.
ADNOC’s new hub is the sixth largest superfast charging site in the world and the largest across the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey.
How does this align with UAE national transport policy?
Federal policy has increasingly framed EV uptake as an infrastructure challenge as much as a consumer one. The UAE’s National Electric Vehicles Policy sets an ambition for electric vehicles to account for 50 per cent of cars on the road by 2050, according to official government guidance.
H.E. Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said the new facility supports that objective. “The inauguration of ADNOC Distribution’s EV Megahub is a significant step in implementing the UAE’s National Electric Vehicles Policy and advancing our vision for sustainable mobility across the nation,” he said.
What is ADNOC Distribution’s wider charging strategy?
The E11 hub forms part of a broader highway electrification plan. ADNOC Distribution says it intends to develop 20 highway charging hubs nationwide by the end of 2027, with 15 planned by the end of 2026.
Bader Saeed Al Lamki, chief executive of ADNOC Distribution, said the focus is on confidence for long-distance travel. “As more consumers choose electric vehicles, we are redefining convenience to ensure they can travel confidently across the country, supported by our growing E2GO network,” he said.
The company says its E2GO network now exceeds 400 charging points, with a target of up to 750 by 2028. It plans to leverage its national service station footprint to scale deployment quickly.
How does this compare with the rest of the UAE network?
Urban charging has expanded rapidly, particularly in Dubai. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority said in August 2025 that it operated 1,270 public EV charging points across the emirate, under its EV Green Charger programme. In June 2025, DEWA also reported more than 39,000 electric vehicles registered in Dubai by the end of the first quarter.
Abu Dhabi has taken a similar approach through utilities and private operators, though detailed public counts remain less centralised. The result has been strong city coverage, paired with thinner provision on inter-emirate routes.
That imbalance has shaped driver behaviour. For many EV owners, daily urban charging is no longer a constraint. Intercity travel remains the friction point. High-power hubs on highways, rather than slower destination chargers, are increasingly seen as the missing link.
What could change for drivers?
By concentrating 60 fast chargers at a single highway location, ADNOC Distribution is betting on scale rather than dispersion. The site is designed to serve peak commuter flows, with amenities aimed at short dwell times rather than extended stays.
The approach mirrors trends in Europe and China, where clustered ultra-fast hubs have become anchors for electric mobility on major routes. If replicated along other highways, it could materially change perceptions of EV practicality for long-distance travel in the UAE.
For now, the E11 hub stands as a signal of intent. The next test will be execution, including uptime, pricing transparency, and integration with vehicle navigation systems. Those details will determine whether highway charging becomes routine rather than exceptional for EV drivers across the country.
