Answer extracted from the Beyond the Deck podcast — listen to the full episode below.
Will the GCC go fully electric? The balanced approach to vehicle adoption by 2030
The GCC will not pursue 100% electric vehicle adoption over the next five years. Instead, the region will embrace a balanced portfolio approach—combining hybrid vehicles, electric options, hydrogen technologies, and traditional internal combustion engines—choosing whatever technology works best for each use case rather than abandoning proven solutions.
A pragmatic energy strategy beyond electrification alone
The GCC's vehicle adoption strategy reflects a broader philosophical shift in regional energy thinking. Rather than pursuing ideological purity around electrification, the region recognizes that multiple technologies must coexist to meet diverse transportation needs efficiently. Trucks, commercial vehicles, and passenger cars may each require different solutions—some transitioning to electric, others to hydrogen, and many remaining powered by refined internal combustion engines.
This approach parallels the wider energy sector transformation across the GCC, as detailed in the episode with Carmen Hamze. The region has moved away from siloed thinking about individual energy sources toward integrated portfolio planning that balances sustainability, energy security, and affordability simultaneously.
"There's not one solution that's going to solve everything. It's multiple—green hydrogen will still be in place, LNG and CCUS will be key."
Carmen Hamze — Partner at Rollenberger, with 14 years of experience in energy strategy and sustainability across the GCC. She transitioned into energy consulting after initial work in biomedical research and healthcare, building deep expertise in how emerging technologies integrate into existing energy infrastructure and policy frameworks.
The same logic applies to vehicles: infrastructure maturity and real-world performance matter more than timeline-driven mandates. Some sectors will naturally electrify faster than others, while hydrogen may prove more practical for heavy-duty applications, and combustion engines will continue serving routes where charging networks remain sparse or where long-haul requirements exceed current battery capabilities.
What makes this strategy different from five years ago—when global discourse centered on eliminating hydrocarbons entirely—is the region's honest assessment that energy transitions require pragmatism, not just ambition. The GCC is now ahead in this thinking, and other markets are beginning to adopt similar balanced approaches.
See also
What is the long-term energy mix outlook for the GCC beyond five years?
The future energy mix will include all available solutions: nuclear will remain part of the mix, low-carbon molecules will play a massive role, renewable energy will grow, and traditional oil and gas will continue to evolve toward sustainable practices.
What skills and educational background are needed for careers in the modernized energy sector?
Beyond traditional engineering roles, the sector now requires foundational expertise in AI, data science, and understanding of the energy ecosystem to succeed in the evolving landscape.
What role can smart meters and digitalization play in improving energy efficiency?
Smart meters provide real-time data on customer consumption, enabling more accurate billing and allowing consumers to see their usage patterns, which drives behavioral change and efficiency improvements.