China has emerged as the global leader in electric driving readiness, while the UAE ranks as the top-performing country in the Gulf Cooperation Council, according to the 2026 Global Electric Mobility Readiness Index (GEMRIX) released by management consultancy Arthur D. Little.
The third edition of the index evaluated 31 global markets across five dimensions: macro factors, EV market and competition, customer readiness, public charging infrastructure, and total cost of ownership and regulation. A benchmark score of 100 indicates market parity between electric and internal combustion vehicles. Only China (106) and Norway (103) surpassed the parity threshold, followed by Singapore at 96 and the Netherlands at 90. Arthur D. Little highlighted that China set the global benchmark by coordinating manufacturing scale, battery supply chains, vehicle software, charging rollout, energy economics, and regulatory policy into a unified ecosystem.
Among Gulf nations, the UAE ranked highest, placing 22nd globally with an overall score of 53. The report noted that while electric mobility is expanding in the UAE, the market is not yet fully embedded. Electric vehicles accounted for approximately 9% of new vehicle sales in the country in 2025, with battery electric vehicles representing 6% to 8% and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles making up roughly 2.5%.
The UAE's charging network has expanded to around 2,800 public charging points nationwide, which includes approximately 1,250 direct-current fast-charging points and 350 high-power charging units. National targets set by the UAE aim for electric or hybrid vehicles to make up 50% of all vehicles on the road by 2050, while Dubai has targeted an EV share exceeding 15% within its vehicle fleet by 2030.
Arthur D. Little concluded that the competitive advantage in electric mobility has shifted away from standalone vehicle technology toward the speed and quality of infrastructure development, coordinated supply chains, and regulatory incentives.
Sources
- Consultancy-me.com · 2026-09-25
