XPENG opens UAE pre-orders for GX and G9L range-extender SUVs from AED 259,000

XPENG has opened UAE pre-orders for two flagship SUVs, the GX and the G9L, both built around its Kunpeng range-extender powertrain. In an official release tied to its Dubai Brand Night, the company said the GX Flagship Edition costs AED 299,000, while the G9L has a pre-sale starting price of AED 259,000. Both models launch at the same time in 11 markets across the Middle East and Africa, and the release says the pre-orders are open now.

The GX is the one with momentum. XPENG says it has more than 4,000 confirmed orders across MEA, including 800 in the UAE, before a single customer delivery. CnEVPost converts the GX price to USD 81,410, and notes that the statement gave no specific delivery dates. UAE car site Dubicars reports that deliveries are expected from January 2027, though XPENG hasn’t confirmed that date in the release. Dubai keeps working as a launch stage for Chinese brands, as the iCAUR V27’s global debut showed earlier this year, and the GX adds its own “overseas debut” label to the list.

Two flagships, two characters

XPENG pitches the pair as the same technology under different bodies. Both get an 88-inch AR-HUD, a 21.4-inch 3K rear screen, built-in 12.5-litre dual-zone refrigerators and zero-gravity seats with heating, ventilation and massage, all trimmed in Nappa leather. The split is in the brief: the GX targets executives who want space and privacy, while the G9L leans towards families and outdoor trips.

On safety, XPENG says it developed the G9L as a global model, engineered against the requirements of four global five-star ratings, with 192 crash tests completed in total. It makes no equivalent claim for the GX, saying only that the SUV reflects its continued commitment to safety engineering.

How the Kunpeng range extender works

XPENG’s range extender is a series hybrid. An electric motor drives the wheels in all conditions, and an onboard generator makes electricity when the battery needs it. Dubicars adds that a 1.5-litre petrol engine only charges the battery. XPENG says that gives the smooth feel of an EV for daily driving without the dependence on chargers, which it frames as a fit for the region’s long distances, heat and uneven charging coverage.

The headline figure is up to 1,210 km of combined range under NEDC for the two models. Where a fast charger exists, XPENG says the 800V architecture and 5C charging take the battery from 10% to 80% in as little as 10.7 minutes. As a real-world data point, the company says a GX covered 1,231 km from the UAE to Oman, through the desert heat around Liwa, without recharging. The range extender also carries over the software of XPENG’s pure-electric cars, including intelligent driving, smart cockpit features and full-vehicle OTA updates.

A wider network to back the rollout

The product push comes with a distribution one. XPENG entered the UAE in October 2024 through Gulf Star Motors, a subsidiary of Ali & Sons, and has since added Qatar with Almana Group, alongside Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. In 2026 alone it entered Tunisia, Bahrain, Morocco and Mauritius. New distribution agreements with Auto Sales in Kuwait and Mohsin Automobiles LLC in Oman bring it closer to covering all six GCC markets this year. Saudi Arabia isn’t on either launch list, and the release doesn’t name a Saudi partner.

For Egyptian readers, the GX is on the Egypt list but the G9L isn’t. XPENG also says it was the leading premium EV brand by registration in Egypt in the first half of 2026. By 2027, the company aims to reach more than 20 MEA countries and regions with 100+ sales and service outlets, which it says would cover over 90% of its core EV markets.

XPENG is pitching ownership support as the other half of that expansion. It reports 100% cross-regional warranty coverage across the GCC and Levant, with North Africa due in 2027. A digitalised spare-parts warehouse in Dubai can deliver to service centres in as little as 24 hours, and owners get 24-hour vehicle health monitoring. A flagship showroom in Abu Dhabi and a large service centre in New Cairo anchor the physical network. Six more models developed for the Middle East are due within a year, in a rollout synchronised with China.

Humanoids, robotaxis and flying cars

Dr. Brian Gu, Vice Chairman and President of XPENG, said the company wants to bring Physical AI spanning “intelligent vehicles, robotaxis, humanoid robots and flying cars” to the region. Guests at the event saw the IRON humanoid robot, with initial overseas deliveries targeted for H1 2027. XPENG expects MEA to be among the first overseas markets for its flying cars. In the UAE, ARIDGE is working with Ras Al Khaimah on a regulatory sandbox for personal flying cars under GCAA oversight, with plans for an Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah demonstration route. XPENG also plans to explore the region as a market for its YOYO robotaxi. These are all plans and targets, and none has a UAE date.