Dubai announces new incentive package for electric cars

Dubai has announced a new package of incentives to encourage the growth of electric cars in the emirate, which aims to raise the share of clean energy from 7% target in 2020 to 75% by 2050.

The CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), Mohammed Al Tayer, said that Dewa has collaborated with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Supreme Council of Energy to provide a number of benefits that will be in place until 2019. These include providing free public charging for cars, free vehicle registration and renewal and up to 200 free, dedicated parking locations for electric cars.  Free public charging points are already in place.

“I am pleased to announce this initiative for electric vehicles in Dubai… it is made in order to achieve the goals of the national agenda of the Emirate’s vision to create a sustainable environment in terms of air quality…and increase reliance on clean energy,” Al Tayer said at a press conference held over the weekend. 

The incentives package aims to boost the number of electric and hybrid vehicles on Dubai’s road to 10% in 2030, up from 2% which is expected to be achieved in 2020. The new incentive package is only applicable for electric cars, not hybrid vehicles.