Some 43 per cent of UAE residents think owning a car is now more important than it was before the Covid-19 pandemic, against a global average of 48 per cent, according to a new survey.
Coronavirus-induced disruptions have led to a change in consumers' mindset, with many UAE consumers "valuing car ownership more highly since the onset of the crisis", according to the Future of Automobility report by Boston-based consultancy Arthur D Little. It found that 34 per cent of UAE users placed the same amount of importance on owning a car as before the pandemic, while about 24 per cent felt owning a vehicle was less important.
UAE consumers cited the need for a sense of security as one of the main reasons why they viewed car ownership as more important, Joseph Salem, transportation regional practice leader at Arthur D Little, said.
“Since the Covid-19 outbreak, cars have played an even bigger part in people’s lives because of the protection and independence they offer," Mr Salem said.
“The protection we feel inside our socially distanced transport bubble, as opposed to using public transport, seems to be preying on the mind of the consumer more than ever before.”
The report, which surveyed 8,500 customers in 13 countries, forecast annual sales of passenger cars will hover between 97 million and 103 million globally by 2030. This represents an annual growth rate of 2 per cent but a “significant drop” compared with the consultancy’s last forecast two years ago.
Respondents increasingly see electric vehicles as commonplace and are less willing to pay a premium for them as a result.
Only a quarter of those polled said they would be willing to pay more for battery vehicles and first-time EV owners are “highly likely” to stick with them when choosing their next vehicle.
China, the world’s biggest car market, is leading the industry when it comes to adopting autonomous driving technology. More than 70 per cent of Chinese customers said they are positive about it, compared to just 28 per cent in Europe and 26 per cent in the US.
Despite Covid-related restrictions, nearly 55 per cent of individuals said they would prefer at least one personal or face-to-face consultation with a traditional dealer before buying a car.
The UAE ranked highest of all surveyed countries in relation to visiting car dealerships before buying a car. In total, 11 per cent of buyers visited a dealer once, while 27 per cent visited twice or three times.
“When it comes to arranging test drives and finalising purchases, more than two-thirds of UAE respondents prefer person-to-person interaction … these aspects seem likely to remain in place regardless of a global pandemic,” Mr Salem said.
Globally, there is a growing acceptance of other retail methods, though, with 71 per cent of Chinese customers saying they would be willing to buy a car online, compared to 42 per cent in the US and 35 per cent in Europe.
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SPECS
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First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
SPECS
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Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
