PlugShare app guides UAE EV drivers to free charging stations across the Emirates
The crowd-sourced mapping platform helps electric vehicle owners locate complimentary charging points at malls, hotels and other locations, though availability continues to decline as paid networks expand.
PlugShare app guides UAE EV drivers to free charging stations across the Emirates
With over 40,000 electric vehicles now registered across the UAE, finding complimentary charging stations has become increasingly challenging for drivers navigating a landscape where most public infrastructure now charges fees. While free charging still exists at select malls, hotels and private locations, identifying which stations genuinely offer no-cost power often requires advance research rather than arriving unprepared.
PlugShare, a crowd-sourced mapping platform founded in 2009 that now covers more than 200 countries, has emerged as a practical tool for UAE electric vehicle owners seeking to locate these remaining free charging points. The application operates alongside official networks such as DEWA's system, which manages approximately 1,860 EV Green Chargers across Dubai, and ADNOC's E2GO network, though its effectiveness depends heavily on active user participation and regular updates from the driving community.
Installation and account setup
The PlugShare application is available for download on both iOS and Android platforms. Registration requires either a Google or Apple account, or alternatively an email address and password combination. Once registered, users can input their specific electric vehicle model to filter results for compatible charging stations, contribute reviews and photographs from stations they visit, and access route planning features for extended journeys.
Navigating the charging map
Upon opening the application, the interface centres on the user's current location and displays nearby charging stations as map pins. Selecting any pin reveals detailed information about that particular station, including connector types, charging speed specifications, and a chronological feed of recent user check-ins from other drivers who have visited the location.
Locating complimentary charging points
The map includes filtering options that allow users to narrow results specifically to stations reported as free, while excluding paid listings from the display. This cost filter can be combined with connector type specifications, ensuring results show only free stations compatible with a particular vehicle model.
Understanding crowd-sourced accuracy
The platform's reliability stems directly from active driver participation in checking in and reporting current station status, including whether facilities remain free, operational, or experiencing high demand. Stations initially marked as complimentary by their operators do not necessarily maintain that status indefinitely, and listings can become outdated without recent user updates. Reading the most current check-in reports rather than relying solely on static listings provides more accurate information, and contributing personal check-ins after use helps maintain data quality for subsequent users.
Current pricing landscape and infrastructure developments
The regulatory landscape shifted significantly with Cabinet Decision No. 81 of 2024, which established standardized pricing across UAE public charging infrastructure starting September 30, 2024. Current rates stand at Dh0.70 per kilowatt-hour plus five per cent VAT for alternating current charging and Dh1.20 per kilowatt-hour plus VAT for direct current fast charging at DEWA's network. ADNOC's E2GO stations, part of a joint venture with TAQA launched in January 2023 targeting 70,000 charging points in Abu Dhabi by 2030, operate under similar paid structures.
Genuinely free stations today typically comprise occasional shopping mall promotional offers, hotel amenities for registered guests, or newly launched charging points running introductory complimentary periods, rather than permanent guaranteed options. The infrastructure landscape continues evolving rapidly, evidenced by ADNOC Distribution's January 2026 opening of a major charging hub at Saih Shuaib on the E11 highway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, featuring 60 high-speed charging points capable of charging most electric vehicles from zero to 80 per cent capacity in approximately 20 minutes.
Given how quickly station pricing and availability can change in this expanding market, cross-referencing PlugShare listings against official applications from DEWA or ADNOC Distribution before depending on any particular station represents a prudent additional verification step.
Market outlook and strategic targets
The UAE electric vehicle market, valued at USD 2.8 billion in 2025, is projected to reach approximately USD 12.9 billion by 2034, while the charging infrastructure market itself is forecast to grow from USD 0.40 billion in 2025 to USD 1.22 billion by 2033. This expansion aligns with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure's target stipulating that 50 per cent of all vehicles on UAE roads be battery-electric by 2050, part of the country's broader Net Zero by 2050 strategy.
DEWA's Green Charger Initiative, launched in 2015 as the first public electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the Middle East region, established the foundation for what has become a rapidly developing network that drivers now navigate using both official applications and community-driven platforms like PlugShare.
