The UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA), in partnership with Amazon and 7X, has published a landmark report that includes a series of proposed policy recommendations to accelerate the adoption of electric light commercial vehicles (ELCVs) in the UAE.
Based on broad consultation from key players across private and public sectors, the report was published during a UICCA-led panel session held at the Mobility Live Middle East conference in Dubai, which gathered sector experts from UICCA, Amazon, 7X’s logistics arm EMX, and PwC, to discuss the report’s key recommendations. These include creating dedicated charging zones for commercial EVs, standardising regulatory requirements and processes across the UAE, identifying circular solutions for battery recycling, and implementing incentives for EV adoption.
The findings are the result of expert discussions at a Policy Hack session hosted in May 2024 by UICCA, Amazon and 7X that brought together more than 50 representatives from logistics companies, EV charger operators, fleet operators, UAE ministries, and energy and transport authorities to identify challenges and potential solutions to electrifying delivery fleets.
Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of UICCA, said: “This report delivers a clear and actionable pathway to electrifying last-mile delivery in the UAE, a critical lever in the country’s wider decarbonisation agenda. Grounded in input from leading experts and industry stakeholders, it reflects our commitment at UICCA to advancing pragmatic, high-impact climate solutions. Accelerating the adoption of electric light commercial vehicles is not only a carbon reduction imperative; it is an opportunity to reshape urban mobility, stimulate green investment, and drive the evolution of a smarter, more resilient transport ecosystem. Now is the time to translate these insights into coordinated action and build the enabling environment needed for systems-level transformation.”
Prashant Saran, Director of Operations for Middle East, Africa and Türkiye at Amazon, said: “This landmark report underscores the UAE’s strategic position to lead the region’s transition toward electric light commercial vehicles, driven by ambitious sustainability targets, and the rapid growth of online retail. At Amazon, we are aligned with this transformation, and we remain committed to supporting these efforts through a sustained public-private collaboration, targeted infrastructure investment, and scalable tech-enabled solutions, that advance the UAE’s sustainability goals and our own commitment to net-zero carbon. The report details potential pathways for ELCV adoption in last-mile delivery, contributing to discussions about the future of logistics in the UAE and broader region.”
Tariq Al Wahedi, Group Chief Executive Officer of 7X, said: “Electrifying last-mile logistics is not just an operational shift; it is a national imperative. The Policy Hack has demonstrated that when forward-looking regulators, solution-driven partners, and fleet operators unite, we can accelerate the deployment of scalable EV infrastructure that meets the unique needs of the UAE’s logistics sector. At 7X, we are proud to be part of this transformation through our logistics arm, EMX, committed to co-developing solutions that are efficient, inclusive, and sustainable.”
The report and Policy Hack event are part of a wider project led by UICCA, 7X and Amazon to accelerate the adoption of ELCVs in the UAE in alignment with the UAE’s National Electric Vehicles Policy. The policy aims to reduce energy consumption in the transport sector by 20 per cent by 2050 through collaboration between federal, local and private sector partners. The UAE also aims to increase the share of electric vehicles to 50 per cent of total vehicles by 2050.
To discover the full list of recommendations for LCV electrification policies in the UAE, download the report via the link here.
