The Lexus ES500e is now on sale in the UAE at AED 275,000 including VAT, and it marks the first time the ES name has gone fully electric. Al-Futtaim Lexus revealed it alongside the new-generation ES350h hybrid, which opens at AED 230,000, giving Dubai and Abu Dhabi executive sedan buyers a real choice between plugging in and filling up.
The timing matters. The ES has been the quiet favourite of GCC sedan owners for more than three decades, and the arrival of an electric version lands in a month when UAE petrol prices climbed sharply. Below, we break down the specs, the cabin, the hybrid comparison and what owning one in the Emirates actually looks like.
What Is the Lexus ES500e?
The Lexus ES500e is the battery-electric version of the all-new, ninth-generation Lexus ES executive sedan. It uses two electric motors, all-wheel drive and a 74.6kWh battery, produces 338hp, and claims 465km of range. In the UAE it comes in one fully loaded Platinum trim priced at AED 275,000.
Lexus launched the ES500e on the same stage as the RZ500e electric SUV, so the brand now offers two locally sold EVs in the UAE for the first time. The split is deliberate. The Lexus RZ covers buyers who want a raised driving position, while the ES500e targets the traditional saloon customer who values a long rear bench, a separate boot and a lower, calmer ride.
That customer has always existed in the GCC. Company executives, chauffeur-driven owners and families who never warmed to SUVs have kept the ES on UAE roads for decades, and Lexus clearly sees electrification as the way to keep them in the showroom.
Lexus ES500e Price in the UAE and Trim
The Lexus ES500e price in the UAE is AED 275,000 including VAT, and that buys the single Platinum specification. There is no entry-level electric ES. The hybrid ES350h starts at AED 230,000, while a comparable Platinum all-wheel-drive hybrid costs AED 255,000, putting the EV premium at around AED 20,000.
Offering only the top trim keeps the electric ES simple to buy, but it also sets a high entry point. Buyers who want an ES with fewer luxuries and a lower sticker will be directed to the hybrid range. Those who want everything Lexus fits to the car, plus zero tailpipe emissions, get it in one box.
Lexus ES500e Platinum (AWD, electric): AED 275,000
Lexus ES350h Platinum (AWD, hybrid): AED 255,000
Lexus ES350h (entry hybrid): from AED 230,000
All prices include VAT and come from Al-Futtaim Lexus at launch. Dealer offers, service packages and financing terms will vary, so check the current Lexus ES price and offers before committing.
Lexus ES500e Specs, Horsepower and Performance
The Lexus ES500e produces a combined 338hp from two permanent-magnet electric motors driving all four wheels through Lexus's DIRECT4 system. The front motor delivers 268.6Nm and the rear 169.8Nm. Lexus quotes 0 to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds and an official range of 465km from the 74.6kWh battery.
Specification | Lexus ES500e (UAE) |
|---|---|
Powertrain | Dual permanent-magnet electric motors |
Drive | DIRECT4 all-wheel drive |
Combined output | 338hp |
Torque | 268.6Nm front / 169.8Nm rear |
Battery | 74.6kWh |
AC charging | 22kW |
Charging port | CCS2 |
0 to 100km/h | 5.5 seconds (claimed) |
Official range | 465km |
Trim | Platinum |
DIRECT4 constantly varies how much drive goes to each axle, so the car can push more torque rearward when pulling away briskly and shift it forward for stability through bends. On a luxury sedan, the payoff is less about lap times and more about traction on dusty or wet tarmac and composure during quick overtakes on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
Lexus has not published a top speed or a DC fast-charging rate for the UAE car at launch. The 22kW onboard AC charger is generous, however, and will make the most of the higher-powered public and workplace AC posts that are common across Dubai.
Range will depend heavily on conditions. Sustained 120km/h cruising, summer temperatures above 45°C and the air-conditioning running at full blast will all pull real-world figures below the official 465km, as they do with every EV in the region.
Bigger Than Before: Dimensions and Space
The new Lexus ES measures 5,140mm long, 1,920mm wide and 1,560mm tall, on a 2,950mm wheelbase. That makes it 165mm longer than the outgoing ES, with an 80mm longer wheelbase, and pushes it into full-size luxury sedan territory. The wheelbase now sits just 156mm short of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Length: 5,140mm
Width: 1,920mm
Height: 1,560mm
Wheelbase: 2,950mm
Most of that extra wheelbase goes to the rear cabin, which is exactly where many UAE ES owners spend their time. For chauffeured buyers and families, the stretch turns the ES from a comfortable mid-size car into one that genuinely competes with long-wheelbase flagships for rear legroom, at a far lower price.
Design and Interior Highlights
The ES500e Platinum ships with Twin L Signature LED headlamps, adaptive high beams, 21-inch AERO wheels, a panoramic glass roof and soft-close doors. Inside, it gets heated and ventilated semi-aniline leather seats, a 14-inch touchscreen, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system and a head-up display as standard.
Exterior
The new face drops the old oversized spindle grille in favour of slim Twin L Signature lighting, a design language Lexus is spreading across its electric models. Blade-style LED tail lamps run across the rear, and the 21-inch wheels use an aerodynamic design that helps protect range. Practical touches include a power tailgate and logo projection puddle lamps.
Cabin and technology
Semi-aniline leather seats with heating and ventilation
14-inch multimedia display with wired Apple CarPlay
17-speaker Mark Levinson audio
Digital rear-view mirror
Wireless phone charging
Multi-colour door trim illumination
Ventilated seats are close to non-negotiable in a UAE summer, and Lexus fits them as standard. The panoramic roof will bring extra light into the cabin, although owners parking outdoors in August will want to keep the shade closed.
Safety
Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 comes standard, backed by Blind Spot Monitor, a Panoramic View Monitor, Head-Up Display and Advanced Park, which can steer the car into a space on its own. For a 5.1-metre sedan in tight mall car parks, the camera system and self-parking are genuinely useful.
Lexus ES500e vs ES350h Hybrid: Which Should You Buy?
Choose the ES500e if you can charge at home or work and want the quickest, quietest ES. Choose the ES350h hybrid if you drive long inter-emirate routes without charging access or prefer to refuel in minutes. The hybrid makes 244hp and reaches 100km/h in 7.7 seconds, while the EV makes 338hp and gets there in 5.5.
ES500e Platinum | ES350h Platinum AWD | |
|---|---|---|
Powertrain | Fully electric | Petrol-electric hybrid |
Output | 338hp | 244hp |
0 to 100km/h | 5.5 seconds | 7.7 seconds |
Drive | All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
Price (incl. VAT) | AED 275,000 | AED 255,000 |
The performance gap is clear on paper and will be clearer from behind the wheel. The EV delivers its full torque instantly and in near silence, while the hybrid still relies on a petrol engine that becomes audible under hard acceleration. For an ES buyer, that silence is arguably a bigger selling point than the extra speed.
The hybrid keeps one strong advantage: convenience. It never needs planning, and five minutes at any ADNOC or ENOC station sends it on its way again. Owners in villas or buildings with dedicated chargers will hardly notice the difference, but apartment residents without a parking-bay charger should think carefully before choosing the EV.
Running Costs and Ownership in the UAE
The Lexus ES500e should cost noticeably less to run than the hybrid ES because electricity is far cheaper per kilometre than petrol, especially when charging at home overnight. With UAE petrol at AED 4.21 to AED 4.40 per litre in October 2026, the roughly AED 20,000 premium over the equivalent hybrid can be recovered over several years of regular driving.
Energy costs
Exactly how quickly the EV pays back depends on how far you drive, where you charge and your utility tariff. As a rough illustration only, a home-charged EV in Dubai typically costs a fraction of what a petrol car does to cover the same distance, and even an efficient hybrid still needs regular fuel stops. High-mileage drivers commuting between Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi will see the savings fastest.
Maintenance
An electric drivetrain removes oil changes, spark plugs and exhaust components from the service schedule, which typically lowers routine maintenance costs. Tyres, brake fluid, cabin filters and the battery cooling system still need attention, and the 21-inch wheels mean replacement tyres will not be cheap. Lexus had not published UAE service intervals or battery warranty terms at launch, so ask Al-Futtaim for both in writing.
Reliability
The ES nameplate has been in the Lexus line-up since 1989, and across eight previous generations it built one of the strongest dependability records of any executive sedan sold in the GCC. Well-maintained hybrid and petrol ES models regularly pass 500,000km. The electric powertrain is new to the ES, so long-term data does not exist yet, but it shares Lexus's wider electrification engineering.
Resale value
The ES has historically held its value well on the UAE used Lexus ES market, helped by its reputation and steady demand. Electric luxury sedans in the region have generally depreciated faster than hybrids, partly because buyers worry about battery health. The ES500e's Lexus badge should soften that, but expect the hybrid to remain the safer resale bet for now.
Why the Electric ES Arrives at the Right Time
The ES500e arrives as UAE fuel prices rise and the charging network expands. October 2026 brought petrol increases of up to AED 0.60 per litre, with Super 98 reaching AED 4.40. Spikes like that historically push more UAE buyers to consider EVs, and the ES500e gives conservative luxury buyers a familiar name to switch with.
Charging infrastructure has also improved considerably. DEWA's EV Green Charger network, ADNOC's E2GO points and private operators have spread chargers across malls, hotels and office towers. For a sedan that mostly runs between home, office and city destinations, that coverage makes daily ownership straightforward.
Exclusivity plays a part, too. In a market where Dubai and Abu Dhabi buyers notice the newest badge in the car park, an electric ES offers something few executive sedans can: a quiet, understated luxury car that also signals the owner has moved on from petrol.
Lexus ES500e Rivals in the UAE
The Lexus ES500e competes with electric executive sedans such as the BMW i5, the Mercedes-Benz EQE and the Audi A6 e-tron, as well as the Genesis Electrified G80. Most rivals prioritise sportier handling or longer range, while the Lexus leans on comfort, rear-seat space and a long-standing reputation for reliability.
The German rivals typically offer more powerful variants and larger dealer networks for their EV ranges, and some offer longer quoted range. The ES500e answers with a stretched 2,950mm wheelbase, a fully specified single trim and a brand image built on low-stress ownership. Buyers comparing these cars should test-drive each on their own commute, paying close attention to rear legroom, cabin noise and real-world range in UAE heat. Browse new cars in the UAE to compare current prices side by side.
Verdict: Is the Lexus ES500e Worth It?
The Lexus ES500e is worth it for UAE buyers who can charge at home or work and want a spacious, quiet, fully loaded luxury sedan. At AED 275,000, it costs about AED 20,000 more than the comparable hybrid, but it is quicker, smoother and cheaper to run daily. Drivers without reliable charging should still choose the ES350h.
Lexus did not need to rush an electric ES, and it shows. Instead of chasing headline range or supercar acceleration, the brand has built the most Lexus version of an EV it could: calm, comfortable and packed with equipment. For long-time ES owners in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the ES500e is the easiest possible step into electric driving. Follow more launches in our UAE car news section, or explore the full Lexus range.
FAQs
Here are quick answers to the most common questions about the Lexus ES500e in the UAE. In short, it costs AED 275,000, produces 338hp, reaches 100km/h in 5.5 seconds, offers 465km of official range and comes only in Platinum trim with all-wheel drive.
How much is the Lexus ES500e in the UAE?
The Lexus ES500e costs AED 275,000 including VAT in the UAE, sold in a single Platinum trim through Al-Futtaim Lexus.
What is the range of the Lexus ES500e?
Lexus quotes an official range of 465km from the 74.6kWh battery. Real-world range will be lower in high summer temperatures and at sustained highway speeds.
How much horsepower does the Lexus ES500e have?
The ES500e produces 338hp from two electric motors, with 268.6Nm from the front motor and 169.8Nm from the rear.
How fast is the Lexus ES500e from 0 to 100km/h?
Lexus claims 0 to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds, 2.2 seconds quicker than the ES350h hybrid.
What is the difference between the ES500e and ES350h?
The ES500e is fully electric with 338hp and costs AED 275,000. The ES350h is a petrol-electric hybrid with 244hp, starting from AED 230,000, with the Platinum AWD version at AED 255,000.
What charging port does the Lexus ES500e use?
The UAE-spec ES500e uses a CCS2 port and supports AC charging at up to 22kW.
Is the new Lexus ES bigger than the old one?
Yes. The new ES is 165mm longer, with an 80mm longer wheelbase of 2,950mm, giving it significantly more rear legroom.
