• The Polestar 2 is finally available in the UAE. All photos: Polestar
    The Polestar 2 is finally available in the UAE. All photos: Polestar
  • The Polestar 2 made its debut in 2019.
    The Polestar 2 made its debut in 2019.
  • The "all-vegan" interiors of the Polestar 2.
    The "all-vegan" interiors of the Polestar 2.
  • The neat centre console.
    The neat centre console.
  • The Polestar 2's Range Assistant app.
    The Polestar 2's Range Assistant app.
  • The Polestar 2 was built with sustainability in mind.
    The Polestar 2 was built with sustainability in mind.
  • Waiting to go out.
    Waiting to go out.
  • The Polestar 2 underwent testing in extreme conditions.
    The Polestar 2 underwent testing in extreme conditions.
  • On the road in warmer climes.
    On the road in warmer climes.
  • The Polestar 2's Vivaldi web browser.
    The Polestar 2's Vivaldi web browser.
  • Gold-coloured shock absorbers, for when the ride gets rocky.
    Gold-coloured shock absorbers, for when the ride gets rocky.
  • And off it goes, very quietly.
    And off it goes, very quietly.

Polestar 2 UAE pricing confirmed as electric car pop-up shop opens in Dubai


Ian Oxborrow
  • English
  • Arabic

Polestar 2, the new electric car from the premium Swedish brand, is now available in the UAE at a starting price lower than a Tesla Model 3.

Polestar recently linked up with Al-Futtaim Automotive to distribute the car in the Emirates and has opened a pop-up shop at Dubai's City Walk, the company said.

Its fully electric five-door sedan, which has been available elsewhere in the world for a couple of years, currently comes in three versions, each offering a mix of performance and range.

In the UAE, Polestar 2 prices start from Dh161,900 ($44,084) for the standard-range single motor version, featuring one electric motor with 231 horsepower and 330Nm of torque and a 69kWh battery pack providing up to 444 kilometres of electric range.

The long-range single motor version is priced from Dh200,900, and comes with a larger 78 kWh battery and up to 54km of electric range.

A third long-range dual motor variant costs upwards of Dh210,900 and features all-wheel drive with a total output of 408hp, 660Nm of torque, and up to 482km of electric range with a 78 kWh battery.

By comparison, a new rear-wheel drive Tesla Model 3 starts at Dh184,990 in the UAE and offers an electric range of 491km. The estimated delivery time is February 2023, according to the Tesla website. The company is currently facing supply chain challenges.

“Anticipation for Polestar 2 in the UAE is high, and we’re excited to give customers the first opportunity to engage with both Polestar and the Polestar 2," said Mohamed Kassem, general manager for Polestar in the UAE.

"The launch of Polestar in the UAE aligns with the government’s strategic target of net zero emissions by 2050."

  • Tesla has revealed an updated version of its Model S. Courtesy Tesla
    Tesla has revealed an updated version of its Model S. Courtesy Tesla
  • An interior view of the 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid. Courtesy Tesla
    An interior view of the 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid. Courtesy Tesla
  • Tesla has given the cars all-new interiors, with updated screens and climate controls. Courtesy Tesla
    Tesla has given the cars all-new interiors, with updated screens and climate controls. Courtesy Tesla
  • Tesla says it’s capable of 0-60 in less than two seconds. Courtesy Tesla
    Tesla says it’s capable of 0-60 in less than two seconds. Courtesy Tesla
  • Tesla claims it’s the fastest-accelerating production car in the world. Courtesy Tesla
    Tesla claims it’s the fastest-accelerating production car in the world. Courtesy Tesla
  • t’s also redesigned the battery pack and modules in the new cars. Courtesy Tesla
    t’s also redesigned the battery pack and modules in the new cars. Courtesy Tesla
  • It will cost $112,990. Courtesy Tesla
    It will cost $112,990. Courtesy Tesla

Rising fuel costs and a growing awareness of the dangers of climate change are increasingly convincing people to seek alternatives to traditional modes of transport.

About 29 per cent of UAE residents would consider buying an electric vehicle, a survey conducted last year by Audi Abu Dhabi found.

Some of the electric cars available in the UAE at present include Tesla Model S/X/3, Chevrolet Bolt EV, Audi e-tron, Mercedes Benz EQC and Renault ZOE.

Sweden-headquartered Polestar was established by Volvo Cars and Geely Holding as a standalone premium EV manufacturer in 2017. Its vehicles are currently on the road in markets across Europe, North America, China and Asia Pacific.

By 2023, the company plans to have its cars in about 30 markets. Polestar cars are currently produced in two plants in China, with additional manufacturing planned in the US.

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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Tu%20Jhoothi%20Main%20Makkaar%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELuv%20Ranjan%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Shraddha%20Kapoor%2C%20Anubhav%20Singh%20Bassi%20and%20Dimple%20Kapadia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Three trading apps to try

Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:

  • For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
  • If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
  • Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

Central%20Bank's%20push%20for%20a%20robust%20financial%20infrastructure
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3ECBDC%20real-value%20pilot%20held%20with%20three%20partner%20institutions%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPreparing%20buy%20now%2C%20pay%20later%20regulations%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPreparing%20for%20the%202023%20launch%20of%20the%20domestic%20card%20initiative%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPhase%20one%20of%20the%20Financial%20Infrastructure%20Transformation%20(FiT)%20completed%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

ETFs explained

Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.

ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.

There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.

'Lost in Space'

Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen

Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins

Rating: 4/5

Brief scores

Barcelona 2

Pique 36', Alena 87'

Villarreal 0

The Kites

Romain Gary

Penguin Modern Classics

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Updated: October 13, 2022, 8:56 AM