Cartea, a leading automotive media platform in the MENA region (Middle East andNorthAfrica),has conducted a behavioral study on car buyers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, releasingananalysis report that profiles consumers by gender, age, and location, and systematicallyanalyzes their purchase motivations and after-sales needs.
User Profile
The leading segment for car buying intent in the Middle East region are young people, inparticular males, 25 to 44 years old. More than fifty percent of this group does not ownacar,andtheir main reason for not owning a car is due to budget constraints.
Car Purchase Preferences
The primary demand is for daily commuting, and the market is dominated by fuel-poweredvehicles. Consumers ‘ top picks are new cars, and they prefer sedans and SUVs.
With the greatest emphasis on high-temperature adaptation features like run-flat tires, airconditioning cooling, and battery heat protection, local characteristics are noticeable. Furthermore, consumers are most willing to pay for rear-seat independent seats andpanoramicsunroofs,screens for entertainment.
Car Purchasing Process
Social media and vertical media platforms are the main sources of information duringthethree-month-long user purchase decision cycle. Practical tools like fuel, cost calculators, and3Dcarviewing features are highly desired.
Price and promotional policies are the core factors of concern for users when purchasingacar.Beyond this, users primarily focus on quality-related aspects such as performanceparametersand exterior/interior design.
Only 40% of users think about making an appointment for a test drive. The mainavenuesforpurchasing a car are still dealership outlets and dealer stores. There are serious worriesregarding the security of online payments. The biggest problem when buying a car isgoingoverbudget. The most common form of payment is an installment loan, which prefers small downpayments (10-30%).
After-Sales Service
The two main ways to schedule after-sales service appointments are via phone callsandWhatsApp. The most common request is for maintenance, and the main problemsarelongwaittimes and a shortage of parts. Almost 50% of users, think about paying for extraservices; maintenance packages are the most common.
Focus on Chinese Automotive Brands
Purchase intent in the Middle East shows an obvious age divide, with younger groups(particularly those aged 18 to 34) displaying stronger preference, making quick decisionsinfavor of NEVs and flexible payments, while older groups show lower purchase intent, makingcautious decisions, insisting on gasoline-powered vehicles, and making outright purchases.Middle Eastern market acceptance of Chinese vehicles has surpassed 50%.
The advantages of Chinese cars are their smart technology and high cost-performanceratios,but they also have three major problems: poor after-sales coverage, lowbrand trust, andpoorlocal adaptation. Of these, improving A/C output and battery capacity for extremeheat isthemost important localization requirement.
Future enhancements must prioritize building brand trust, expanding the after-salesnetwork,and optimizing digital experiences for younger users.
To view the full report click here: https://www.icartea.com/en/news/cartea-2025-middle-east-car-buyer-behavior-analysis-insights-from-the-uae-saudi-arabia-and-beyond
Media Contact
Company Name: Icartea
Contact Person: David Jason
Email: Send Email
City: New York
Country: United States
Website: https://www.icartea.com/
