Li Auto Enters UAE Market With Dubai Debut of Updated L9 Flagship
Li Auto has officially introduced its refreshed Li L9 extended-range SUV to the United Arab Emirates, marking the brand's commercial entry into the Gulf region with sales starting from AED 319,900 ($87,100).
- AED 319,900 (~$87,100)
- 1,650 km
- 420 km (CLTC)
- 300,000+ units
What Happened
At a brand event staged in Dubai, the carmaker presented the flagship SUV in two configurations mirroring its domestic lineup: an entry Ultra grade priced at AED 319,900 alongside a top-tier Livis edition starting at AED 359,900.
Equipped with a third-generation extended-range electric propulsion system, the vehicle pairs an onboard generator with traction batteries to achieve a battery-only driving distance of 420 km and an overall cruising capability reaching 1,650 km under CLTC test cycles.
Engineers adapted the SUV for regional conditions, upgrading cabin thermal management and battery cooling systems to withstand high summer ambient temperatures and desert dust. The infotainment setup runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8797 silicon, offering localized navigation alongside Arabic interface menus and planned Arabic voice recognition by year-end.
Vehicle distribution and service operations are managed through exclusive distributor Al Fahim Group, which will open its initial retail facility in downtown Dubai during September. The launch builds on recent entries into Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, supported by domestic Chinese cumulative deliveries of the L9 nameplate surpassing 300,000 units.
Why this matters
Expanding into the UAE marks Li Auto's first vehicle sales in the Middle East following its initial push into Central Asia. Adapting its range-extended architecture for extreme desert temperatures and partnering with local distributor Al Fahim Group establishes an official sales footprint as Chinese luxury automakers target affluent Gulf buyers.
Terms in This Story
- CLTC
- China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle, the standard automotive testing protocol used in China to determine driving range and energy consumption.
- Steer-by-wire
- A digital steering architecture that replaces mechanical steering column linkages with electrical signals and electronic actuators.
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