The MENA EV Future: Planning for the Desert Sun

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is not just contemplating an electric future; it is strategically investing billions to lead it. Spearheaded by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the region has set ambitious goals, such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 target of having 30% of vehicles in Riyadh be electric by 2030 and the UAE’s aim for 50% of vehicles on its roads to be electric/hybrid by 2050 under its Net Zero 2050 strategy. This commitment has fuelled a new and growing market, expected to reach US$14.5 billion by 2029―still relatively nascent compared to North America’s US$95 billion in 2025. Policy discussions are rightly focused on building out charging networks, standardizing plugs, and offering consumer incentives. Looking ahead, one climate-specific factor will require careful planning: the region’s extreme heat, which can influence battery performance and longevity.

While much of the EV conversation centres on ‘range anxiety,’ planners in MENA will also need to account for ‘heat anxiety’ as the market grows. High summer temperatures above 45 °C can accelerate battery wear and reduce performance, making climate-adapted vehicle and infrastructure design increasingly important.

The Physics of the Problem: Accelerated Deterioration

Lithium-ion batteries work best between roughly 15 °C and 35 °C, but Gulf summers often exceed 45 °C, accelerating internal chemical reactions and, with sustained exposure above ~40 °C, dramatically shortening a battery’s usable life. Even premium EVs with active cooling see some efficiency loss, while cheaper or passive-cooled vehicles are far more vulnerable to accelerated wear. High temperatures also force the battery’s thermal management system to work harder, reducing driving range by up to 17% and highlighting the need for climate-adapted design in both vehicles and infrastructure.

Charging systems are also affected. Evidence from a recent 2025 study in Qatar shows that DC fast chargers can derate in heat, reducing charging power and extending charging times. In practice, this suggests that charger and battery thermal-management, proper placement (shade, ventilation), and climate-adapted design will matter a lot for the reliability and performance of EV infrastructure in the MENA region.

The combined effect of extreme heat on vehicles and charging infrastructure also places extra strain on the grid, especially during peak summer hours. Planning for widespread EV adoption will therefore require both climate-resilient vehicles and smart, heat-adapted infrastructure.

The Critical Gap in Policy Amidst Massive Investment

The strategic importance of the EV transition to the MENA region’s broader economic diversification and climate objectives—from Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Green Initiative to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050—is clear. Both governments are pouring major capital into building domestic EV industries. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) alone plans to channel US$39 billion into developing a local EV ecosystem between now and 2030, including manufacturing, batteries, chips, and supply-chain localization. This investment underpins the launch of Ceer, the Kingdom’s first national EV brand (a PIF–Foxconn venture), and the attraction of Lucid Motors, which is ramping up production at its King Abdullah Economic City factory.

In the UAE, the 2023 National Electric Vehicles Policy establishes unified technical standards and encourages adoption through incentives such as reduced registration fees and dedicated or free parking in certain jurisdictions. On the infrastructure side, ADNOC and TAQA’s E2GO joint venture plans to install up to 70,000 EV charging points in Abu Dhabi by 2030, one of the region’s most ambitious charging-network buildouts

Technical standards incorporate basic standards for battery and electrical safety (including UN38.3 testing for battery systems), helping ensure EVs meet baseline thermal and electrical safety requirements in high-temperature environments.

Although UAE standards adopt international battery-safety tests like UN 38.3, they do not yet include Gulf-specific requirements addressing long-term EV performance in extreme heat. Current large-scale investment therefore assumes European/North American operating conditions rather than the thermal realities of the region.

As adoption grows and entry-level models become common, vehicles with less sophisticated thermal management may face range reductions, accelerated battery wear, and reduced overall reliability. Forward-looking regulations that account for thermal performance and cooling solutions will help protect consumer investments and maintain confidence.

Supporting infrastructure is just as critical. Charging networks and grid management must anticipate the combined stresses of high ambient temperatures, peak summer air-conditioning demand, and EV charging. Shaded or solar-canopied charging stations, active-cooling modules, and smart-grid strategies can help balance demand and prevent grid overload. By integrating climate-adapted infrastructure with vehicle thermal planning, the MENA region can support widespread adoption while maintaining grid stability and energy security.

A Climate-Optimized Path Forward

A successful EV transition in the MENA region will require regulatory courage and strategic investment that prioritizes climate‑adapted solutions, ensuring the billions already committed deliver long-term impact.

1. Thermal Performance Standards: Governments should establish minimum thermal management requirements for all EVs sold in the region, reflecting the extreme heat of desert climates. These standards could incentivize vehicles with robust active cooling systems or other effective thermal solutions, helping protect consumer investments and maintain battery longevity.

2. Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Charging networks must be designed to withstand intense heat. Public fast chargers should ideally be installed under shaded or solar-canopied structures to reduce exposure to high ambient temperatures. Active cooling in chargers, where feasible, can help prevent performance losses during peak summer hours.

3. Local R&D in Cooling: Investment in domestic research for advanced cooling technologies—such as immersion cooling or specialized phase change materials—can position the MENA region as a global leader in desert-proof mobility solutions, potentially exporting expertise to other hot climates worldwide.

   
   

The MENA region’s commitment to sustainable energy and economic diversification is clear, evidenced by multi-billion-dollar investments and ambitious 2030/2050 targets. But solving infrastructure alone is not enough. By accounting for the desert sun as a key engineering factor, governments can help ensure that EVs maintain reliable performance, range, and longevity even during peak summer temperatures. It’s time to focus less on the wire and more on the wave of heat.

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As 2025 comes to a close, we will be taking a brief pause for the holiday season. We’ll be back with our next OpEd in the new year in January with inspiring content that we can’t wait to share with you. Wishing you a joyful holiday season! See you in the new year!