Key takeaways
Kia's UAE business moved to Al Tayer Motors and Premier Motors on 1 September 2026, ending Juma Al Majid Group's 38-year run.
The same two groups will sell FREELANDER, which named the UAE its first international market on 29 September.
MG's distributor IEM has sold 50,000 vehicles since March 2021. Yearly deliveries went from 3,000 in 2021 to 13,265 in 2025, 4.4 times as many.
Newer brands are arriving through established local groups: Li Auto with Al Fahim Motors, Zeekr with AW Rostamani Group, SOUEAST with Elite Group Holding.
Kia owners keep their warranty and service plans. Book with the group that covers your emirate and take your service records to the first visit.
Kia changes hands after 38 years
The largest move of the season came first. On 31 August 2026 Kia announced that Al Tayer Motors would become its exclusive importer-distributor in the UAE, with Premier Motors representing the brand in Abu Dhabi. The arrangement took effect the next day, 1 September. Juma Al Majid Group had held Kia since 1988.
For owners, the practical change is geographic. Which company looks after your Kia now depends on where you are, not on where you bought the car.
Al Tayer Motors: Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain.
Premier Motors: Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
New capacity: Al Tayer has opened a Sharjah site of more than 8,800 square feet, of which 3,200 square feet is a service centre.
Tip
If you own a Kia
Your warranty, service agreement and after-sales support carry over without a break. Service histories are being moved to the new systems, so bring your VIN, your Mulkiya and your service records to the first appointment and ask the adviser to confirm that your history shows up.
The same two groups, a second brand
Four weeks later the pairing appeared again. At its global launch in Abu Dhabi on 29 September, FREELANDER, the brand developed by JLR and Chery, named the UAE as its first international market. Al Tayer Motors will represent it in Dubai and the Northern Emirates and Premier Motors in Abu Dhabi, with three flagship showrooms already secured.
That is the same division of territory as Kia's. It is also familiar from older arrangements: Al Ghandi Auto has represented Chevrolet in Dubai and the Northern Emirates since 2008.
YallaMotor analysis
One brand, two companies
A split by emirate is simple for a private owner who stays put. It matters more to drivers who move between Dubai and Abu Dhabi and to fleets that run in both, because they deal with two companies for a single brand.
MG at 50,000: what a distributor builds in five years
The season's third headline shows what the Kia and FREELANDER appointments are aiming for. Inter Emirates Motors has sold 50,000 MG vehicles since it took on the brand in March 2021. It delivered 3,000 in 2021 and 13,265 in 2025.
MG deliveries through IEM: 4.4 times as many in 2025 as in 2021
MG vehicles delivered in the UAE per year, as reported by the distributor.
Source: Inter Emirates Motors figures as reported by YallaMotor, 29 September 2026.
Item | Deliveries |
|---|---|
2021 | 3,000 |
2025 | 13,265 |
That is 4.4 times the 2021 figure, and 2025 alone makes up 26.5% of everything IEM has sold. The company describes the rise as 340%; the two delivery figures give 342.2%.
Who bought IEM's 50,000 MGs
Cumulative MG sales since March 2021, split by the retail and fleet shares IEM reports.
Source: YallaMotor calculation from IEM's 55% and 45% shares of 50,000 sales.
Item | Vehicles |
|---|---|
Retail Customers | 27,500 |
Fleet and institutional | 22,500 |
Retail customers account for 55% of those sales and fleets and institutions for 45%, or about 22,500 vehicles. Behind them sit six showrooms, five service centres and almost 300 aftersales staff. IEM says new energy vehicles come next.
New brands, familiar names over the door
The brands that launched cars this autumn mostly did so through groups UAE buyers already know. Li Auto sells through Al Fahim Motors under a partnership formed in April 2026. Zeekr's official distributor is AW Rostamani Group, SOUEAST's is Elite Group Holding, and GAC's cars are sold in Gargash showrooms.
Swipe sideways to see every column
Brand | Sold or represented by | Where | This autumn |
|---|---|---|---|
Kia | Al Tayer Motors (importer-distributor); Premier Motors | Dubai and the Northern Emirates; Abu Dhabi and Al Ain | New from 1 September 2026, after 38 years with Juma Al Majid Group |
FREELANDER | Al Tayer Motors; Premier Motors | Dubai and the Northern Emirates; Abu Dhabi | Brand launched on 29 September; three flagship showrooms secured |
MG | Inter Emirates Motors (IEM) | Six showrooms, five service centres | 50,000 sold since March 2021 |
Li Auto | Al Fahim Motors | First location planned for Dubai | First car on sale in September; partnership formed in April 2026 |
XPENG | Ali & Sons showrooms named for test drives | Dubai and Abu Dhabi | Up to 7 models planned by end-2026 |
Zeekr | AW Rostamani Group (official distributor) | Dubai and Abu Dhabi | Flagship Dubai showroom redesigned |
GAC | Gargash | Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah | GS7 PHEV launched |
SOUEAST | Elite Group Holding (exclusive distributor) | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman and Al Ain | S08 Luxury launched; strongest half-year reported |
Jetour | Jetour UAE with Elite Group Holding | Not stated in our report | Al Ain FC partnership renewed |
OMODA & JAECOO | Galadari Motors showroom named at launch | Sharjah | O5 HEV launched; more than 5,000 customers |
Chevrolet | Al Ghandi Auto | Dubai and the Northern Emirates | 630 sq m experiential showroom announced |
Farizon | Jameel Motors | Not stated in our report | V7E electric van launched |
Twelve brand relationships named in our coverage between 2 September and 6 October 2026, in the words each report uses. It is not a list of every brand sold in the UAE.
Two entries need a caveat. Our XPENG and OMODA & JAECOO reports name the showrooms where the cars can be seen, Ali & Sons and Galadari Motors, without spelling out the agreement behind them, so the table says exactly that.
The showroom is changing too
Where cars are sold is shifting along with who sells them. Chevrolet and Al Ghandi Auto have announced a showroom of more than 630 square metres inside City Centre Mirdif, which General Motors calls a global first for the brand. Zeekr has redesigned its flagship on Sheikh Zayed Road.
The season in four numbers
Figures from this autumn's network announcements.
Source: Company statements as reported by YallaMotor, September and October 2026.
Service is being built alongside. At Al Tayer's new Sharjah site the service centre takes 36.4% of the floor area. XPENG plans up to 7 models in the UAE by the end of 2026, and OMODA & JAECOO report more than 5,000 customers across the seven emirates.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Kia dealer in Dubai and Abu Dhabi now?
Al Tayer Motors covers Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Premier Motors covers Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Both handle sales, service, parts and after-sales support.
Is my Kia warranty still valid after the distributor change?
Yes. Kia says existing warranties, service agreements and after-sales support stay in place without interruption and are honoured by the two new groups.
Who sells MG cars in the UAE?
Inter Emirates Motors, known as IEM, which has represented MG since March 2021. It runs six showrooms and five service centres.
Where can I see the new FREELANDER in the UAE?
Through the same two groups that now sell Kia. Premier Motors has Abu Dhabi, and Al Tayer Motors has Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Three flagship showrooms have been secured, but our sources give no opening or on-sale date.
Who distributes Li Auto in the UAE?
Al Fahim Motors. The two formally established their partnership in April 2026, with a first location planned for Dubai and more than two retail and service centres planned in total.
How we worked this out
We read sixteen YallaMotor articles published between 2 September and 6 October 2026 and recorded every statement about which company sells, distributes or represents a brand in the UAE. Each relationship is described in the words of its report: a showroom named in a launch report is not presented as a distributorship. The table covers brands that appeared in that coverage, not the whole market. MG figures are the distributor's own; retail and fleet volumes apply its 55% and 45% shares to 50,000 sales. Kia's change was announced on 31 August and took effect on 1 September; one of our guides dates the split itself from 31 August.
