The Organizing Committee of the National Auto Award announced the completion of the nomination phase across all categories and sections for its 14th edition (2026), paving the way for announcing and honoring the winners during the final ceremony scheduled to take place in Jeddah in mid-November.
The award is the first and only one of its kind in the Middle East region, organized and managed by “PR Arabia” with the support of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and in strategic partnership with “Geeby Finance”.
Chinese Dominance and a Shift Towards Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
This year’s nomination results revealed a striking shift in local market trends, as tech-focused electric and hybrid models topped the list, supported by advanced modern powertrain technologies such as PHEV and REEV.
In contrast, traditional categories—particularly Japanese and Korean—experienced a noticeable decline against a strong and continuous rise of Chinese models, which strengthened their market share in the Kingdom thanks to fierce competition among manufacturers and their distributors. The current edition also recorded an increase in the participation of luxury and supercar categories.
An Exceptional Year for the Automotive Sector in the Kingdom
The year 2026 witnessed pivotal events in the Kingdom’s automotive sector, starting from the launch of advanced models relying on modern engine systems, through hosting global motorsport championships such as the Dakar Rally and a round of the Formula E World Championship, all the way to the most prominent global and local event: the official launch announcement of the national brand “CEER” on September 21.
Over 25 Categories and Upcoming Surprises
Walid Karanouh, Secretary-General of the Award, explained that extending the deadline for closing the nomination platform was done to allow as many participants as possible to enter and to accommodate new models whose arrivals were delayed due to global shipping conditions.
Karanouh noted that the award reached its target by encompassing over 25 categories, including vehicles, special awards, and motorsport awards, while revealing upcoming surprises and new categories to be introduced for the first time during the closing ceremony.
He added: “We constantly strive to keep pace with technological advancement to select the best across all categories, while keeping up with the latest developments in the automotive world so that the award remains comprehensive and supportive of the sector, continuing its role in celebrating excellence and innovation while highlighting influential individuals, companies, and initiatives in the Kingdom.”