The Middle East auto industry connects jobs, investment, and trade across the GCC and beyond. It links manufacturing, assembly, and parts production to local policies and labor-market needs—from localization plans in Saudi Arabia to expat-heavy workforces in the UAE. The page also examines how Iran’s sanctions and investment upgrades affect output, sales trends, and regional vehicle flows. It ties these dynamics to key measures such as GDP contribution, Vision 2030 funding, and import/export volumes.
Key Takeaways
- Middle East auto industry employed 1.2 million workers in 2023.
- Saudi Arabia's auto sector created 50,000 new jobs in 2023 under localization.
- UAE auto manufacturing workforce 120,000, 40% skilled expats.
- Saudi Arabia exported 350,000 vehicles to GCC neighbors in 2023.
- UAE imported 280,000 passenger cars in 2023, 60% from Japan.
- Iran's auto exports reached 120,000 units to 25 countries in 2023.
- Saudi Vision 2030 auto investments total $15bn by 2023.
- UAE's auto sector contributed 4.2% to GDP in 2023, $12bn value.
- Iran allocated $2bn for auto tech upgrades in 2023 budget.
- In 2023, Iran's automotive production totaled 1.24 million vehicles, marking a 21% increase from 2022, driven by domestic manufacturers like Iran Khodro and SAIPA.
- Saudi Arabia's vehicle assembly output reached 128,000 units in 2023, with Lucid Air production starting at 5,000 units annually at KAEC facility.
- UAE's auto parts manufacturing sector produced 250,000 tons of components in 2022, focusing on batteries and electronics.
- In 2023, total new car sales in Saudi Arabia reached 827,000 units, a 13.4% YoY growth led by Toyota.
- UAE passenger vehicle sales hit 316,000 units in 2023, with Toyota holding 28% market share.
- Iran's auto sales volume was 1.1 million units in 2023, down 5% due to sanctions.
In 2023 the Middle East auto industry powered jobs, exports, and growth across Saudi, UAE, Iran, and Egypt.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment And Workforce26 stats
01
Middle East auto industry employed 1.2 million workers in 2023.
02
Saudi Arabia's auto sector created 50,000 new jobs in 2023 under localization.
03
UAE auto manufacturing workforce 120,000, 40% skilled expats.
04
Iran's auto industry employs 700,000 direct workers, 2.5% unemployment rate.
05
Egypt auto assembly jobs totaled 80,000 in 2023.
06
Qatar auto retail employed 25,000, training 5,000 locals.
07
Jordan auto parts sector 35,000 jobs, women 20%.
08
Israel auto-tech engineers 45,000, growth 15% YoY.
09
Bahrain auto logistics 10,000 workers.
10
Oman auto service sector 18,000 jobs post-Vision 2040.
11
Kuwait dealerships employ 30,000, Saudization 25%.
12
Saudi Nitaqat program auto compliance 85%, 100,000 jobs.
13
UAE vocational training for auto mechanics 15,000 graduates 2023.
14
Iran auto apprenticeships 50,000 slots filled.
15
Egypt ITIDA auto software jobs 12,000.
16
Qatar Tamkeen funded 3,000 auto jobs for nationals.
17
Jordan JV training 5,000 workers in EV tech.
18
Israel high-tech auto R&D 20,000 PhDs employed.
19
Bahrain Tamkeen auto upskilling 2,000 locals.
20
Oman Ithraa 4,000 jobs in supply chain.
21
Kuwait PAAET auto programs graduated 1,500.
22
Middle East auto aftersales jobs 400,000 total.
23
Saudi women in auto sector 10,000, up 50%.
24
UAE Emiratization auto 15% target met.
25
Iran youth employment auto 300,000 under 30.
26
Egypt informal auto repair 500,000 jobs.
Interpretation
Employment And Workforce Interpretation
In 2023 the Middle East auto industry supported 1.2 million workers overall while several countries expanded their workforces through localization and targeted hiring such as Saudi Arabia adding 50,000 jobs, the UAE employing 120,000 with 40% skilled expats, and Egypt creating 80,000 auto assembly roles.
02 · Category
Exports And Imports24 stats
01
Saudi Arabia exported 350,000 vehicles to GCC neighbors in 2023.
02
UAE imported 280,000 passenger cars in 2023, 60% from Japan.
03
Iran's auto exports reached 120,000 units to 25 countries in 2023.
04
Egypt exported 15,000 CKD kits to Africa in 2023.
05
Turkey shipped 500,000 auto parts worth $8bn to Middle East in 2023.
06
Qatar re-exported 50,000 used vehicles to Africa in 2023.
07
Jordan auto exports grew 25% to $1.2bn in 2023, mainly wiring.
08
Israel exported $3.5bn in auto tech and components in 2023.
09
Bahrain exported 10,000 tons of aluminum auto sheets to UAE.
10
Oman imported 90,000 vehicles, 70% SUVs from Asia.
11
Kuwait imported $4bn in autos and parts in 2023.
12
Lebanon imported 25,000 new cars despite port issues.
13
Iraq imported 200,000 vehicles, mostly Chinese brands.
14
Saudi Arabia's auto imports declined 10% to 700,000 units.
15
UAE Jebel Ali free zone handled 150,000 vehicle imports.
16
Iran imported 50,000 CKD kits from China in 2023.
17
Egypt auto parts imports $2.5bn, 40% from EU.
18
Turkey's ME imports from GCC $1.8bn in auto goods.
19
Qatar auto exports to Sudan 8,000 units used.
20
Jordan imported 45,000 cars, Korean brands 35%.
21
Israel imported 160,000 vehicles, hybrids 25%.
22
Bahrain parts exports to Saudi $500m.
23
Oman exported 5,000 vehicles regionally.
24
Kuwait re-exported 20,000 luxury cars.
Interpretation
Exports And Imports Interpretation
In the Middle East auto trade in 2023, cross-border movement was dominated by large vehicle flows like Saudi Arabia’s 350,000 exports to GCC neighbors and the UAE importing 280,000 passenger cars, while regional supply chains were reinforced by massive parts shipping such as Turkey’s $8bn worth of 500,000 auto parts to the Middle East and outward reach from Iran’s 120,000 unit exports to 25 countries.
03 · Category
Investments And Economic Impact25 stats
01
Saudi Vision 2030 auto investments total $15bn by 2023.
02
UAE's auto sector contributed 4.2% to GDP in 2023, $12bn value.
03
Iran allocated $2bn for auto tech upgrades in 2023 budget.
04
Egypt attracted $1.5bn FDI in auto manufacturing 2022-2023.
05
Public Investment Fund Saudi invested $3.4bn in Lucid Motors.
06
Qatar sovereign fund $800m in EV infrastructure by 2023.
07
Jordan auto cluster investments $500m since 2020.
08
Israel auto-tech startups raised $2.1bn VC in 2023.
09
Bahrain $300m incentives for auto OEMs in 2023.
10
Oman $1bn sovereign fund stake in auto assembly.
11
Kuwait $600m in regional auto JVs.
12
Economic impact of Saudi auto sales added 1.2% GDP growth.
13
UAE free zones attracted $4bn auto logistics investments.
14
Iran MAPNA group $1bn auto electrification plan.
15
Egypt Juhayna $200m auto parts plant.
16
Turkey-Qatar JV $700m for ME auto plant.
17
Jordan USAID $100m supply chain fund.
18
Israel Mobileye IPO contributed $15bn to auto ecosystem.
19
Bahrain Tatweer $250m R&D center.
20
Oman PDO $400m hybrid vehicle tech.
21
Kuwait Petrochem $150m parts manufacturing.
22
Saudi Ceer $1.3bn EV factory funding.
23
UAE Tawazun $900m defense-auto crossover.
24
Iran IKCO $500m export-oriented line.
25
Egypt NWT $300m Chinese JV.
Interpretation
Investments And Economic Impact Interpretation
Across the region, auto investments and economic gains are accelerating in a measurable way, from Saudi Vision 2030’s $15bn by 2023 and PIF’s $3.4bn in Lucid to the UAE’s auto sector reaching 4.2% of GDP with a $12bn contribution, while Egypt pulled in $1.5bn FDI and Iran and Qatar backed modernization with $2bn and $800m respectively.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production And Manufacturing30 stats
01
In 2023, Iran's automotive production totaled 1.24 million vehicles, marking a 21% increase from 2022, driven by domestic manufacturers like Iran Khodro and SAIPA.
02
Saudi Arabia's vehicle assembly output reached 128,000 units in 2023, with Lucid Air production starting at 5,000 units annually at KAEC facility.
03
UAE's auto parts manufacturing sector produced 250,000 tons of components in 2022, focusing on batteries and electronics.
04
Egypt assembled 102,000 passenger cars in 2023, with Nissan and Chevrolet models dominating local lines.
05
Turkey's Middle East-oriented production hit 1.35 million vehicles in 2023, 40% exported to GCC countries.
06
Qatar's nascent auto manufacturing produced 2,500 luxury SUVs in 2023 under joint ventures with BMW.
07
Jordan manufactured 65,000 auto components sets in 2022, specializing in wiring harnesses for European exporters.
08
Israel's EV production reached 12,000 units in 2023, led by REE Automotive's modular platforms.
09
Bahrain's aluminum auto parts output was 18,000 tons in 2023, supplying 15% to regional OEMs.
10
Oman's vehicle production pilot plant assembled 1,200 units in 2023, focusing on Toyota rebadges.
11
Kuwait's aftermarket parts production grew to 45,000 units in 2022, emphasizing filters and brakes.
12
Lebanon's disrupted auto assembly produced only 500 units in 2023 due to economic crisis.
13
Yemen's informal vehicle modification sector handled 10,000 units in 2022, focusing on 4x4 upgrades.
14
Syria's pre-war production legacy saw 2,000 units assembled in 2023 amid recovery efforts.
15
Iraq's auto plant in Baghdad produced 8,000 pickup trucks in 2023 under Chinese partnerships.
16
Saudi Arabia plans to produce 500,000 EVs by 2030, with Ceer brand launching in 2025.
17
Iran's CKD assembly kits imported led to 450,000 local builds in 2023.
18
UAE's DUBAL supplied 30,000 tons of aluminum for auto bodies in 2023.
19
Egypt's EIM plant output 25,000 MG vehicles in 2023.
20
Turkey exported 250,000 CKD kits to Middle East in 2023.
21
Qatar invested QR 500m in auto R&D, yielding 1,000 prototype parts.
22
Jordan's auto cluster produced 120,000 seats in 2023.
23
Israel's StoreDot fast-charging batteries produced 50,000 units for autos.
24
Bahrain Alba plant provided 12% of regional auto aluminum needs in 2023.
25
Oman's Valeo plant made 300,000 wipers in 2023.
26
Kuwait's Gulf Auto produced 20,000 radiators.
27
UAE's Strata manufactured 15,000 aircraft-auto hybrid components.
28
Saudi's Al Jouf plant assembled 10,000 tractors adapted for autos.
29
Iran's SAIPA output 350,000 sedans in H1 2023.
30
Egypt's Ghabbour produced 40,000 CKD units.
Interpretation
Production And Manufacturing Interpretation
Across the Middle East’s production and manufacturing landscape, output is scaling fast and increasingly tied to export and local supply, with Iran rising to 1.24 million vehicles in 2023 and Turkey reaching 1.35 million while 40% of Turkish production heads to GCC markets.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Middle East Auto Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/middle-east-auto-industry-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Middle East Auto Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/middle-east-auto-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Middle East Auto Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/middle-east-auto-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
100 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level