A new Li L9 drives through the desert in the UAE. Credit: Li Auto
- The new Li L9 starts at about $87,100 in the UAE and has been specially adapted to the local climate and user preferences.
- Li Auto will establish more than 2 official retail and service centers in the UAE, with its first Dubai location set to open in September.
Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) has officially launched the new Li L9 in the United Arab Emirates, extending its overseas expansion from Central Asia into the Gulf region.
The company held a launch event in Dubai on Thursday, according a statement today. The flagship extended-range SUV (sport utility vehicle) is available locally in the same 2 versions offered in China: Ultra and Livis.
The Ultra starts at AED 319,900 ($87,100), while the Livis starts at AED 359,900.
The launch marks Li Auto’s first official vehicle sales in the Gulf region and a new milestone in its global expansion.
The new Li L9 features a third-generation extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) system, delivering a CLTC battery-only range of 420 kilometers and a combined range of 1,650 kilometers with a full tank and a full charge.
The SUV comes standard with steer-by-wire and rear-wheel steering, as well as an intelligent cockpit powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8797 platform.
The higher-end Livis version also features an 800-volt active suspension system and electromechanical brake-by-wire (EMB).
Li Auto specially calibrated and adapted the vehicle for UAE roads, extreme summer heat, dusty conditions and local charging standards.
The changes include optimized charging performance and cabin thermal management in hot and dusty environments to improve reliability in local use.
The vehicle will offer an Arabic-language user interface and currently supports voice interaction in English. Arabic voice support is scheduled to become available by the end of this year.
The new Li L9 also supports local charging protocols and integrates localized map data to improve its digital services and everyday usability.
Li Auto reached an agreement with Al Fahim Group in April, making the latter its exclusive general distributor in the UAE.
The partners plan to establish more than 2 official retail and service centers in the country, with the first official retail center scheduled to open in downtown Dubai in September.
Customers purchasing through official channels will receive an official warranty, certified repairs, genuine parts, technical support and ongoing over-the-air (OTA) software updates.
Li Auto chief financial officer Li Tie said the company’s family-focused positioning and extended-range technology are highly aligned with demand in the Middle East.
Li Auto entered markets in Central Asia, the Caucasus and North Africa in 2025 and launched the new Li L9 in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan this year.
The company has also reached a local assembly agreement with the Kazakhstani automotive group Allur, making Kazakhstan the first market where it has an overseas production base.
Li Auto signed a cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabian distributor Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors in April, though it has yet to announce a launch timetable for the market.
The Li L9 was initially launched in China in June 2022 and surpassed 300,000 cumulative deliveries in July.
The updated Li L9 currently sold in China was launched in May. The Ultra version starts at 459,800 yuan ($67,830), while the Livis version starts at 509,800 yuan.
Li Auto delivered 37,679 vehicles in August, up 32.07% year-on-year and ending 3 consecutive months of year-on-year declines.
The company delivered 261,619 vehicles in the first 8 months of the year, down 0.6% from a year earlier, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.
As it continues to expand in the Middle East, Li Auto also plans to participate in the 2026 Paris Motor Show, marking its first appearance at a major European auto show.
Li Auto posted a second-quarter net loss of 1.7 billion yuan, while revenue fell 15.1% year-on-year to 25.7 billion yuan.
($1 = 6.7787 yuan, $1 = 3.6727 UAE dirhams)
