Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.I think we are considering to have the R&D center in Dubai,” Wang said. “Now we already have our own operation center in Dubai, including the sales activities, branding team, and also the service workshop, and also the warehouse used to cover all the regions MENA.”Pressed on when such a centre could be established, Wang pointed to 2028. “I think maybe, let's say, two years later.

Two years later, in 2028 will be possible for us to set up this,” he said.UAE becomes a test market for premium EVsThe possible Dubai R&D centre signals a more serious bet on the UAE, which GAC sees as one of the region’s most premium and diverse car markets. Wang said the UAE’s buyer base stretches from luxury customers to more affordable segments, making it an important market for testing how Chinese brands can move up the value chain.GAC’s next phase in the Gulf will lean heavily on premium electric vehicles and technology-led models, with its Hyptec brand expected to play a bigger role. Wang said the company wants local customers to understand that GAC is not limited to affordable cars and can compete in higher-end segments.A GAC Montx concept car is displayed on the opening day of the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 24, 2026.“For our EV segment in the future, first we want to promote our Hyptec.

This is our premium brands,” Wang said. “We want the local customer can understand that GAC is not only for the affordable segment. We also have a premium brand like Hyptec in the markets.”That matters because the UAE’s roads are already seeing a stronger mix of electric SUVs, Chinese EVs and high-performance models.

Buyers are becoming more open to new brands, but they are also demanding more from them, especially in service quality, cooling performance, driving range, technology and after-sales support.Wang said the UAE could become one of GAC’s key trial markets for premium brands in the Gulf over the next five years.Why GAC is not rushing its flagship modelsGAC has drawn attention with models such as the Hyptec SSR, its high-performance electric sports car, and the S9, which has performed strongly in China. Wang said the company is aware of regional interest in such vehicles, but it will not rush broader sales until the full ownership ecosystem is ready.Two workers walk past the venue of this year's Beijing Auto Show on the eve of the event at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing on April 23, 2026.The reason is that premium-car buyers in the Gulf expect more than a striking design or strong acceleration figures.

They expect test-drive access, fast service, trained workshop teams, clear maintenance processes and direct feedback loops between customers, dealers, engineers and the brand.“So far, the product itself is quite nice model, and why we're not enlarged to sell them in the market, because we need to make everything ready,” Wang said. “We need to have a lot of connection between our company, our R&D team, our sales team and our service team, to understand very well for their demand.”That mirrors the larger test facing Chinese carmakers in the Gulf. Winning attention is easier than winning loyalty.

A premium EV customer in Dubai or Abu Dhabi will compare a new Chinese model with established luxury brands, electric specialists, and high-spec SUVs already available in the market.Wang said GAC wants to ensure sales activity, test drives, customer feedback, and workshop services are aligned before scaling premium models in the region.Gulf drivers want cars with characterGAC’s reading of Middle East demand is not limited to EV range or price points. Wang said buyers in the region, especially in the medium- and premium-segments, want vehicles with a stronger sense of identity.“They have a lot of diversified demand,” he said.

“But on the common side for this kind of premium or medium range clients, they love the cars with some unique DNA.”That includes off-road capability, a strong driving feel and models that feel engaging to own. In the Gulf, cars are often tied to lifestyle, family movement, long-distance weekend travel and desert or mountain driving. This makes the region different from