Li Auto opens in Dubai: six seats for Gulf families

For an importer in the Gulf, what matters is the store rather than the model: a Chinese brand built on range extenders and large cabins now has its own outlet in Dubai, which means delivery and after-sales have a local owner. Buyers were never worried about the car, they worried about who answers when something breaks.

Li Auto opened a store in Dubai and brought in the refreshed MEGA together with the new Li i9, both large six or seven seat vehicles aimed at families. The brand delivered 37,679 units in August and has passed 1.8 million cumulative deliveries, with Gulf states named a priority market.

Do the running cost math. Surface temperature in Dubai reaches 50 degrees Celsius in summer, and during cabin cool-down the air conditioning takes 20% to 30% of total energy, so quote real range at about 80% of the label. That is where a range extender earns its place, since a run to Abu Dhabi needs no charging plan.

Three things to check. Heat durability first: ask for measured data on battery thermal management and compressor output at 50 degrees, not a spec sheet. Second, specification gaps, because a Gulf version usually needs insulated glass, sun protection and rear vents that differ from the domestic build.

Three steps. Request the Gulf specification list and the high-temperature test report, then match insulated glass and rear air outlets item by item. Build an energy cost table at 80 km and 150 km a day, quoting families and corporate fleets separately. Send model, trim, volume and port for a landed-cost check.