A novel model for barriers to electric vehicle adoption in the Middle East

• Offers a large-scale survey of electric vehicle (EV) purchase intentions in UAE. • Provides in-depth analysis of how 52 barriers constrain consumer preferences. • Utilises four-stage mediation model to predict likelihood of buying EVs in the UAE. • Finds financial cost perceptions and environmental views are dominant influences. • Reveals that knowledge and experience with EVs notably reduced perceived barriers to adoption. This study presents the first large-scale, representative survey to assess consumer preferences for electric vehicles (EVs) in the Middle East. Leveraging a large-scale data collection of more than 5,000 United Arab Emirates (UAE) respondents, this study employs a rigorous and novel methodology, capturing positive and negative influences on EV adoption, alongside environmental, financial, and normative dimensions. Our survey incorporates 52 specific barriers to EV adoption, covering technical, economic, infrastructural, and psychological factors. Financial cost perceptions were particularly salient; yet, general environmental views have an outsized effect on purchase likelihood, due to a large direct effect, and then notable associations with knowledge/experience of EVs, which themselves notably reduce perceived barriers to adoption. Understanding UAE consumers’ attitudes and beliefs are important for knowing how decision-makers can communicate about and target policy on EVs. We offer both a novel modelling approach, involving theoretically-derived four-stage mediation, and recommendations for government action in the UAE, Middle East and beyond.