Dubai's First International Electric Vehicle Show Opens Tuesday With AI and Autonomy on Agenda

The event, the first of its kind in the emirate, is run in partnership with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and China EV100, a Chinese electric vehicle industry group. It is held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

The exhibitor list shows how far Chinese brands have moved into the Gulf car market. Xiaomi, Zeekr, Xpeng, Exeed and Smart are exhibiting alongside Mini, Mitsubishi and Fuso, and next to the large UAE dealer groups Al-Futtaim, Al Habtoor, Al Ghurair and Al Rostamani. Autonomous driving company WeRide, which already runs robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, is among specialist firms in charging, energy and mobility technology taking part.

The exhibition covers private electric cars, electric public transport and logistics vehicles, autonomous vehicle and safety technology, batteries, fast and ultra-fast charging stations, and smart charging and energy management systems. Visitors will be able to take test drives.

The three-day conference will cover the use of artificial intelligence in transport systems, autonomous driving, ultra-fast charging networks, electrifying transport and logistics fleets, and the policies and regulation needed for the shift. The first day includes sessions on the future of electric mobility, AI in airports and logistics, low-emission taxis, and smart transport and self-driving systems.

The programme also includes a UAE-China industrial cooperation forum on green and smart mobility, aimed at industrial partnerships between companies from the two countries. China EV100's involvement and the number of Chinese brands on the floor make the forum one of the event's most commercially significant sessions, as Chinese carmakers increase exports and the industry body expects the Middle East to lead their export growth next year.

The RTA has set targets to electrify Dubai's taxi and limousine fleets and to put autonomous vehicles on the emirate's roads. The conference is the authority's first large platform to bring carmakers, charging operators, investors and regulators together on those plans. It closes on Thursday, 12 November.