Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai is organizing the inaugural Dubai International Electric Vehicles Exhibition and Conference, titled “Electric Vehicles World 2026.” This significant event is set to take place from 10 to 12 November 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, under the theme: “Towards a Smart and Sustainable Future in Mobility.”
The event is aligned with Dubai’s vision to enhance the transition towards a more sustainable and intelligent transport system, reinforcing its position as a global hub for innovation in the mobility sector. It exemplifies the RTA’s commitment to accelerating the adoption of green mobility solutions and looking ahead to the future of transportation by employing modern technologies to develop an integrated transport system that supports sustainability goals and emission reduction.
Matar Al Tayer, the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA, stated, “The organization of the first edition of the Dubai International Electric Vehicles Exhibition and Conference: (Electric Vehicles World 2026) confirms Dubai’s leading position as a global centre for innovation and future economy. It serves as a platform for companies, investors, developers, and decision-makers to explore the future of a sector experiencing rapid growth and fundamental shifts in technologies, business models, and value chains.”
Accelerated Transition
He further elaborated that the global public transport sector is witnessing a swift transition towards electric vehicles and new energy vehicles, driven by significant advancements in battery technologies, clean energy, charging infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems. This evolution opens up vast economic and investment opportunities for cities capable of building an integrated framework that combines flexible legislation, advanced infrastructure, innovation, and public-private sector partnerships. Al Tayer asserted that Dubai possesses strong competitive advantages that equip it to play a pivotal role in this transformation, thanks to its attractive environment for investments, talents, and global companies, alongside a remarkable capability to adopt and practically apply future technologies. The RTA has adopted a strategy for “Zero Emission Public Transport in Dubai by 2050,” making it the first entity in the Middle East to establish a long-term strategy for transitioning to public transport with net-zero emissions by 2050.
Showcasing the Latest Innovations
Al Tayer added, “The Electric Vehicles World 2026 Conference and Exhibition will serve as an international platform for exchanging experiences, building partnerships, and showcasing the latest innovations in electric and hydrogen vehicles, sustainable energy technologies, smart infrastructure, aerial mobility, and autonomous systems.” He noted that the participation of over 300 local and international companies and organisations reflects the growing interest in Dubai as a promising market and a hub for developing future mobility solutions.
He expressed anticipation for this event to enhance collaboration with major companies, research and development centres, and global specialized institutions. It aims to attract cutting-edge technologies and investments, supporting the development of a comprehensive economic ecosystem for electric and smart mobility, thereby contributing to emissions reduction, enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of the transport system, and aligning with Dubai’s goals of building a competitive and sustainable economy that enhances the quality of life for current and future generations.
Significant Participation Expected
The event is expected to attract over 300 local and international companies and organisations, along with more than 30 business partners and 70 speakers from experts in the sustainable transport sector. Participants will showcase the latest solutions and technologies in electric vehicle manufacturing and operation, battery management, hydrogen fuel cells, sustainable energy technologies, fast charging stations, smart infrastructure, drones, and autonomous systems, in addition to digital solutions and artificial intelligence that enhance the efficiency of future mobility systems.
Advanced Preparations
Preparations for the event are gaining momentum through collaboration with local and international partners, aiming to deliver a launch edition that demonstrates Dubai’s position as a global centre for innovation and advanced technologies in the transport sector. Recently, Matar Al Tayer met with Dr. Chang Yonggui, Chairman of China EV100 Alliance, to explore avenues for cooperation and expand international partnerships in the fields of electric vehicles, new energy vehicles, and smart and sustainable mobility.
The meeting addressed ways to develop cooperation that supports the organization of the Dubai International Electric Vehicles Exhibition and Conference 2026, establishing its role as a regional platform for communication between governmental entities, global companies, and mobility sector leaders. Both sides discussed opportunities for exchanging expertise in electric vehicles, smart and sustainable mobility, and building strategic partnerships with leading Chinese institutions and companies in the new energy vehicles ecosystem and future transport technologies.
Furthermore, the preparations witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement with China EV100 Alliance aimed at expanding the participation of Chinese companies and institutions in the exhibition and conference, enhancing collaboration in industry, technology, research, and development, and linking advanced Chinese capabilities with the emerging investment and commercial opportunities in the UAE and the region.
The organizing committee has also conducted a series of promotional visits and international meetings in China, Germany, Belgium, and India to introduce the event, attract specialized companies and institutions, expand the network of international partners, and enhance participation from stakeholders in electric vehicles, batteries, charging infrastructure, clean energy, and smart technologies.
A Comprehensive Platform for Investment and Innovation
Leveraging this local and international momentum, the Dubai International Electric Vehicles Exhibition and Conference 2026 intends to solidify its role as a leading platform uniting various stakeholders in the electric mobility ecosystem—from manufacturers and investors to infrastructure developers and government entities, along with providers of smart technologies. This effort will enhance Dubai’s status as a global hub for electric and smart mobility and facilitate the establishment of a comprehensive ecosystem for partnerships, investment, and innovation in sustainable transport.
The event provides an opportunity to enhance dialogue among various sector stakeholders, explore investment and partnership opportunities, and discuss challenges associated with the expanded use of electric vehicles, including developing charging infrastructure, battery management, integration of vehicles with energy networks, and developing supporting technologies and systems for electric mobility.
Furthermore, the exhibition and conference confirm Dubai’s trajectory towards building an integrated ecosystem for electric mobility that encompasses not only vehicles but also infrastructure, technologies, energy, smart systems, specialized personnel, and investment partnerships. This approach aims to enhance the emirate’s readiness for the forthcoming phase of transformation in the transport sector.
Thanks to Dubai’s strategic location, advanced infrastructure, accumulated experience in operating clean energy vehicles, and extensive network of international partnerships, the event will contribute to enhancing the emirate’s position as a global centre for developing, testing, and adopting electric and smart mobility solutions and support efforts aimed at building a more sustainable and efficient future for the transport sector.
Zero Emission Transport
The RTA continues to bolster the emirate’s position as a global capital for sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility through the implementation of a comprehensive strategy aimed at achieving a complete transition to zero-emission public transport by 2050.
The authority translates its forward-looking vision through a comprehensive system that includes vehicles, public transport buses, and marine transport, in line with Dubai’s economic agenda: D33, and the emirate’s climate neutrality strategy.
In efforts to modernise the taxi and luxury transport sectors, the RTA has successfully increased the percentage of environmentally friendly (hybrid) vehicles in Dubai’s taxi and luxury transport fleet to over 72%, while the transition to electric vehicles has reached 19%, surpassing the targeted goal for 2026. Additionally, the RTA has developed an ambitious operational plan to ensure the entire fleet transitions to electric and hydrogen vehicles by 2040. The authority is also expanding its testing and launching of electric autonomous mobility vehicles in collaboration with major global companies, alongside building a sophisticated infrastructure of fast charging stations at various public parking locations and key transport facilities.
Advanced Electric Buses
On the public bus front, the public transport sector has made significant progress in replacing the traditional fleet with advanced electric buses specifically designed to withstand the region’s climatic conditions. The RTA continues to conduct operational trials for the latest rapid charging and energy capture technologies while equipping bus stations with renewable energy systems and high-capacity electrical feeding equipment to ensure sustainable and efficient operation around the clock.
The authority’s efforts are not limited to land transport but have also extended to maritime transport, achieving a qualitative shift through the development of traditional abras and modern means powered by electric and hydrogen engines. These initiatives aid in reducing carbon emissions and mitigating noise pollution while preserving the cultural identity of Dubai’s maritime icons, creating a serene and seamless travel experience that enhances the quality of life for passengers and tourists.