Li Auto brings its flagship L9 SUV to the UAE in first Gulf market push

Li Auto held a launch event in Dubai on Thursday to introduce the new L9 to the United Arab Emirates, marking the company's first official vehicle sales in the Gulf. The extended-range flagship is offered in the same two trims as in China — Ultra from AED 319,900 (about $87,100) and the plusher Livis from AED 359,900 — as Li Auto's overseas push extends from Central Asia into the Gulf region.

The SUV packs a third-generation EREV system with 420 km of CLTC electric range and 1,650 km of combined range on a full tank and charge. Steer-by-wire and rear-wheel steering are standard, and the cockpit runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8797 platform, while the higher-end Livis grade adds an 800-volt active suspension and electromechanical brake-by-wire.

The vehicle has been recalibrated for local conditions, with charging performance and cabin cooling optimized for extreme heat and dust, plus support for local charging standards and localized map data. It ships with an Arabic interface and English voice interaction, and Arabic voice support is slated to arrive by year-end. Al Fahim Group, appointed exclusive distributor in April, will operate more than two retail and service centers, starting with a downtown Dubai location opening this month.

The UAE debut builds on Li Auto's 2025 entries into Central Asia, the Caucasus and North Africa and an assembly deal with Kazakhstan's Allur, while a Saudi distributor partnership signed in April has yet to yield a launch date. In China, the L9 has surpassed 300,000 cumulative deliveries since its 2022 debut, and Li Auto's August shipments rose 32% year-on-year to 37,679 units. The company also plans its first appearance at a major European auto show, the 2026 Paris Motor Show.