UAE In-Focus — Dubai Taxi to test Tesla Model 3; policies approved to expedite circular economy transition

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced that Dubai Taxi Corp. has added Tesla Model 3 to its taxi fleet for a trial after operating 172 Tesla vehicles since 2017, according to the Dubai Media Office.
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Updated 04 July 2022
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UAE In-Focus — Dubai Taxi to test Tesla Model 3; policies approved to expedite circular economy transition

DUBAI: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced that Dubai Taxi Corp. has added Tesla Model 3 to its taxi fleet for a trial after operating 172 Tesla vehicles since 2017, according to the Dubai Media Office.

During the trial run, the vehicle will be deployed on the emirate’s taxi fleet to test its efficiency.

Mattar Al-Tayer, director general and RTA’s board chairman, said: “In 2017, RTA started the operation of 172 Tesla vehicles as part of the limousine fleet of the Dubai Taxi comprising 80 Tesla Model S, 50 Tesla Model X, and 42 Tesla Model 3,” he said.

Al-Tayer noted that these vehicles were highly efficient, especially in terms of carbon emissions and customer satisfaction.

“The success of that experiment prompted us to widen the scope of using electric vehicles as part of the Dubai Taxi fleet over the upcoming years,” he said.

In his view, the experiment supports Dubai’s effort to transform 90 percent of its limo fleet into eco-friendly vehicles by 2026.

Circular economy transition

As part of its drive toward sustainable economic development, the UAE has approved 22 policies aimed at accelerating the country’s transition to a circular economy.

According to the government, the UAE Circular Economy Council’s policies will cover four main sectors: Manufacturing, food, infrastructure, and transportation.

Furthermore, the council identified 16 circular economy activities that offer opportunities for businesses, such as upcycling textile waste into new products and developing AI-driven waste management solutions.

Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Minister of State for Food Security Mariam Almheiri said: “Our current linear economy consumes valuable materials and resources without being able to benefit from them after use, which represents waste in the modern concept of sustainability.”

“Our approach seeks to protect our environment and to ensure the long-term economic and social prosperity of our country,” she added.

Circular economies focus on reducing the extraction of natural resources, minimizing waste, and restoring natural systems.

Renewable energy sources fuel economic activity by maintaining the value of raw materials, components, and products.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 10,414 

Updated 17 December 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 10,414 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index closed lower on Wednesday, shedding 38.85 points, or 0.37 percent, to finish at 10,414.06. 

Total trading turnover on the benchmark index reached SR3.46 billion ($920 million), with 123 stocks advancing and 134 declining. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu also shed 41.61 points, or 0.18 percent, to close at 23,428.67. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index edged down 0.45 percent to 1,368.36. 

Arabian Drilling Co. was the best-performing stock on the main market, with its share price rising 6.8 percent to SR102.90. 

Naqi Water Co. gained 4.30 percent to SR58.25, while Saudi Ground Services Co. advanced 3.78 percent to SR38.42. 

Tihama Advertising, Public Relations and Marketing Co. saw its share price fall 4.95 percent to SR16.31. 

AlAhli REIT Fund 1 also declined 3.53 percent to SR6.29. 

On the announcements front, United Mining Industries Co., listed on the parallel market, said it has begun commercial production of gypsum board at its plant in Yanbu. 

In a Tadawul statement, the company said the financial impact of the project’s commercial production will be reflected in the first quarter of 2026. 

United Mining Industries Co.’s share price was unchanged, closing at SR42.54.  

Dkhoun National Trading Co. said its shareholders approved the board’s recommendation to distribute interim dividends on a semi-annual or quarterly basis for 2025. 

According to a Tadawul statement, shareholders also approved transferring the balance of the company’s statutory reserve, valued at SR2.43 million, to retained earnings. 

Dkhoun National Trading Co.’s shares saw no trades and closed at SR65.