A new electric car manufacturer has launched in the Middle East with ambitions to take on the region’s most entrenched brands. Nio, a Chinese EV company, showed off its EL8 model at a recent showcase event in Abu Dhabi.
The car is the manufacturer’s flagship six-seater SUV, and it’s clearly been designed to cope with a future where autonomous driving is an everyday occurrence. That is not to say the EL8 isn’t a decent vehicle to drive – it is.
The amount of tech in the car even rivals anything currently available today, and a lot of it is geared towards helping both driver and passengers in as many ways as possible. While nothing jumps out from the decor and dashboard set-up inside the EL8, it’s all about voice commands in here. So if you want something to happen, you ask Nomi, the car’s built-in AI set-up connected to ChatGPT.
I asked it to tell a joke. It did. Not a funny one, admittedly, but stand-up careers have been based on less.
Seemingly, every driver aid and add-on I can possibly think of is included with the EL8, including an in-car fragrance system. Its detection system, which is what effectively powers all those aids, stretches for some 500 metres, so there’s no excuse for not knowing what’s happening around me at any time.
Predictably then, driving the EL8 is a serene experience. That aside, Nio has also given it some proper power – in its Sport+ mode, the car, which is all-wheel drive, can go from a standstill to 100kph in 4.1 seconds.
The vehicle’s 850Nm of torque figure is also worth mentioning. All this is generated by a 180kW permanent magnet motor on the front axle and a 300kW induction motor at the rear.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
However, I don’t feel any of that grunt when putting my foot down as the whole ambience inside the cabin is one of calmness personified – undoubtedly the effect the designers and engineers were after.
Top speed plateaus at a more-than-sufficient 200kph, and the range is about 500km, though that will be considerably less if taking advantage of the aforementioned Sport+ mode.
This is all about comfort and the ultra-minimalist cabin says as much. The car is about five metres long, as well, so there's plenty of room.
Owners get a lot with an EL8 and, realistically, this does not make it a budget option. Chinese brands have been offering many of their products at competitive prices as they gain a foothold outside of traditional territories, but the base price for this new arrival is a substantial Dh359,900 (about $98,000).
That kind of figure puts it up there with most of the high-end SUV offerings currently on the market (not counting off-the-scale vehicles such as the Rolls-Royce Cullinan).
Nio is likely to be an automotive contender in the region – this initial launch happened following the formation of Nio Mena, a joint venture with Abu Dhabi-based partner CYVN, so this is just the start.
For those interested in getting a closer look at the EL8 or taking it for a spin, Nio has a pop-up facility in Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, while the main showroom will be opening in Abu Dhabi later this year.
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
The biog
Name: Sari Al Zubaidi
Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati
Age: 42
Marital status: single
Favourite drink: drip coffee V60
Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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The five pillars of Islam
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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.
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.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now