The UAE aims to be climate-neutral by 2050. One way it seeks to achieve this goal is by increasing the number of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles on the roads to 50% by 2050. To work towards this transition, the UAE has also worked hard to provide vehicle charging infrastructure. 

In a new joint venture between the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) 100 charging units will be installed by the end of 2024, to increase the figure to 1,000 by 2030.

The move aims to reduce 100,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2030, equivalent to planting 1.8 million trees, to meet the climate neutrality aims.

UAEV, the first EV charging network fully owned by the government, was launched in Abu Dhabi, covering all seven emirates. It will offer 160 kilowatts fast-charging points, which will be publicly accessible to community members, including taxi drivers.

Until the end of 2024, the chargers will be free of cost to use, and price points will be finalized later. 

“EVs are the future of global mobility. Our communities are becoming more and more environmentally and ecologically conscious. They want greater choice and they want to play an active and positive role in a more sustainable future,” said Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI and the chairman of UAEV.

“As we have embarked on a journey towards the widespread adoption of EVs, the availability and accessibility of charging stations become part of the infrastructure.”

Badr Mohammad Rabia Al Awadhi, head of sustainability at EtihadWE and UAEV program lead, added that deploying this EV infrastructure in the country has economic benefits, such as job creation.

Plans are underway to install the charging units in malls, supermarkets, and government buildings. Yousif Ahmed Al Ali, CEO of Etihad Water and Electricity and board member of UAEV, added that a 24/7 customer service call center and an application with all needed location information are part of the plans.

The first set of EVs from UAEV have been deployed in Ajman, and more will be installed across the country in the coming months.