Tesla Begins Cybertruck Deliveries in the UAE Amid U.S. Slowdown

Tesla has started Cybertruck deliveries in the UAE, according to company announcements, as U.S. sales declined and the automaker looks to expand into new markets.

Tesla has started delivering the Cybertruck to customers in the UAE, a move that looks like a search for fresh momentum after demand for the model cooled noticeably in the United States. The first handovers took place at a Dubai event where more than 60 trucks were delivered, alongside capability demonstrations, including a smash-panel display meant to underline the strength of the stainless-steel body—an attribute the company has previously described as bullet-resistant.

The UAE launch also highlights the core tension in taking the Cybertruck global: pricing. In the regional configurator, the dual-motor version starts at AED 404,900 (about $110,000), while the higher-output Cyberbeast begins at AED 454,900 (roughly $123,000). The gap versus U.S. pricing is widely expected, given that the truck is assembled at Gigafactory Texas in Austin and must absorb import-related costs on the way to buyers in the Gulf.

The timing is not accidental. Published figures say Cybertruck sales in the U.S. fell 48.1% in 2025 to 20,237 units. With the domestic environment turning more challenging—and with the federal EV tax credit of up to $7,500 tied to an end date of September 30, 2025—expanding into new markets becomes a straightforward next lever to pull.

Still, the Cybertruck’s international roadmap has clear limits. Europe remains a difficult prospect: stringent pedestrian-safety rules are frequently cited as a major hurdle for a vehicle with sharp, wedge-like surfaces unless it undergoes substantial redesign. Weight adds another constraint, since the Cybertruck’s loaded mass can exceed the 3.5-tonne threshold, and demand considerations matter too—full-size pickups are far less popular there, and the truck’s dimensions are a poor fit for narrower roads and dense urban infrastructure.

On the other hand, Tesla can point to strong occupant-safety credentials: the Cybertruck earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, with the rating applying to 2025–2026 models built after April 2025, following changes made to improve performance in crash testing.

Put together, the UAE rollout reads as a pragmatic play: if U.S. demand proved less durable than expected, new markets can help stabilize the trajectory, even at higher price points. The next question is whether Tesla can turn this kind of launch into sustained international volume as competition intensifies—especially after 2025, when BYD surpassed Tesla in global EV sales.