Chinese brands are climbing the charts. EVs are finding more homes. And used cars are taking longer to shift. That’s the picture from AutoData Middle East’s H1 2025 Used Car Market Report for the UAE and KSA, covering brand momentum, buyer behaviour, and how long cars actually sit before selling.

Chinese brands and SUVs take the lead

Chinese marques kept their foot down, especially in SUVs, with Jetour, Geely and MG posting standout gains.

Jetour up 163.9% in the UAE, now a top-four brand
Jetour T2 model up 212.2%
Geely up 39.1%, MG up 21.5% in the UAE
In KSA: Jetour up 52.2%, Haval up 37.3%
Over 70% of buyers in both markets say they’re confident buying Chinese brands

Shoppers aren’t just browsing; Vehicle Report searches for Chinese models jumped 60% quarter on quarter, with interest clustering around 2022 cars priced near AED 70,000. Translation: practical value plus the perceived spec bump that newer Chinese SUVs bring. For more context on what those line-ups look like in the UAE, see our guides to MG models and prices and Geely in the UAE.

EV adoption moves from niche to noticeable

Electric share is still single digits, but growing.

UAE EV sales up 18.6% in H1 2025
EVs now 7% of new registrations in the UAE
Total UAE new-car market ~157,000 in H1 2025, up 11% year on year
KSA EV sales up 33.5% to ~3% share, led by Lucid and Lexus
Policy tailwind in KSA via Vision 2030 electrification plans

More chargers are landing too, which helps hesitant buyers. See our coverage of new ultra-fast charging roll-outs in Dubai and our plain-English explainer on hybrid vs electric in the UAE. These shifts don’t flip the used market overnight, but they change the depreciation maths on older petrol sedans and boost demand for newer plug-in stock.

Two markets, two mindsets

Buyer priorities diverge between the UAE and Saudi.

UAE: value plus image; sweet spot is AED 10k–60k; strong interest in 2015–2020 cars with proven reliability
KSA: affordability first; demand centred on SAR 10k–40k; preference for newer used cars, mainly 2021–2023

In the UAE, shoppers want a good badge-to-spec ratio without taking a bath on resale. In KSA, budgets are tighter and buyers lean towards fresher model years for peace of mind and easier financing. If you’re eyeing a Chinese SUV in the UAE, recent launches like the Jetour G700 and Geely Starray AWD show why the segment is heating up.

Resale is slowing, and promotions won’t save you forever

Supply is up, especially with more used Chinese imports landing in the UAE. That is lengthening time to sell.

Average days to sell online in the UAE rose to 42.15 by July
KSA rose to 30.06 days in July
April was much faster: 14.06 days (UAE) and 13.35 (KSA), boosted by Ramadan/Eid promotions
Dealers are leaning on discounts and finance offers; SUVs and luxury are holding better than mass-market sedans

Net effect: expect longer listings and sharper price negotiations on mainstream petrol models. If you own a well-specced SUV with ADAS and a service history, you still have leverage. Everyone else needs clean photos, full records and realistic pricing.

What dealers and marketplaces should do next

The report is blunt about the need for data over gut feel. Sellers that adapt will keep margins; the rest will sit on ageing stock.

Calibrate prices weekly against Chinese SUV comps from 2022–2024
Widen finance options for SAR 10k–40k cars in KSA and AED 10k–60k in the UAE
Stock newer used units where possible; list EVs with battery health data
Time promotions to religious holidays but avoid over-reliance
Use transparent vehicle histories to cut buyer anxiety (and returns)

For fleets and buyers leaning electric, keep an eye on charging coverage and aftersales. Our EV news hub covers new charging sites and fleet EV moves in the UAE and Farizon’s first Dubai showroom.

What were the biggest gainers among Chinese brands?

Jetour led with a 163.9% jump in the UAE and 52.2% in KSA, with the T2 up 212.2%. Haval rose 37.3% in KSA; Geely and MG grew 39.1% and 21.5% in the UAE.

How big is the EV market in H1 2025?

UAE EV sales rose 18.6%, taking share to 7% of new registrations. KSA reached roughly 3%, driven by Lucid and Lexus.

Why are used cars taking longer to sell?

More supply is flowing in, especially used Chinese stock into the UAE, while post-Ramadan demand cooled. Average online days to sell rose to 42.15 in the UAE and 30.06 in KSA by July.