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The Emirates News Agency reported that Souq Al Haraj in Sharjah has emerged as a key destination matching increased buyer interest in electric and hybrid vehicles during a period of rapid change across the automotive sector. Customers at the market can select from these models along with traditional cars, enabling direct comparisons of specifications, technologies and operating costs to inform decisions that align with individual needs and budgets. The trend forms part of a wider shift that has seen electrified vehicles gain share even as overall industry volumes contracted.
Saeed Al Suwaidi, director of Souq Al Haraj, said the growing interest in electric and hybrid vehicles reflects the ongoing developments within the automotive sector and changing buyer preferences. Al Suwaidi stated that the souq works to strengthen its position through an integrated setting that unites buyers and sellers while offering a broad selection of vehicles. He noted that the facility maintains a full network of showrooms, support services and amenities designed to simplify the purchase and sale process.
According to the Emirates News Agency, Souq Al Haraj covers more than three million square feet and ranks as the largest automotive market in the Middle East. A separate WAM assessment from earlier in 2026 placed the total number of showrooms above 360, with more than 5,000 vehicles available across economy, luxury and commercial categories at any time. The market occupies a strategic site opposite Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, allowing convenient access for visitors from all emirates.
Focus2Move data places the increase in battery electric and plug-in hybrid registrations at 19.4 percent for the first nine months of 2026, lifting their share of total sales to 22 percent from 13.9 percent a year earlier. The same figures show the overall UAE vehicle market declined 24.7 percent in the corresponding period, highlighting the contrasting performance of electrified segments. A MarkNtel Advisors review projected the national electric vehicle market to grow at a compound annual rate of 31.92 percent and reach $24.77 billion by 2032.
Sharjah Taxi has moved to convert its complete fleet to hybrid vehicles by the end of 2027, a step local coverage links to the same demand patterns observed at Souq Al Haraj. Industry participants have connected part of the uptake to recent fuel price movements that enhance the cost advantage of electric and hybrid powertrains over their lifetimes. Officials at the Dubai International Electric Vehicle Exhibition and Conference stated the national goal remains for half of all vehicles on UAE roads to be electric by 2050.
The Emirates News Agency indicated that Souq Al Haraj streamlines transactions by housing certified technical inspections, registration services, insurance counters and ownership transfer offices in one location. This arrangement reduces processing times and supports both individual buyers and commercial traders operating within the market. The combined services have helped sustain the souq’s standing as a central automotive trading point for the region.
