From Oil to Electrification: A Qualitative Assessment of E-Mobility Policy in Saudi Arabia

The rapid global shift toward transportation electrification has positioned e-mobility as a key part of low-carbon transition strategies. Saudi Arabia, as a major energy producer undergoing economic diversification under Vision 2030, has recently increased its policy efforts for electric mobility. This study performs a qualitative document analysis of 52 national policies, strategies, and institutional publications issued between 2010 and 2025, creating a longitudinal dataset of 1240 coded references. Using a PRISMA-aligned screening process and NVivo-based thematic coding, the analysis highlights main policy trends, institutional priorities, and implementation challenges influencing the Kingdom’s e-mobility transition. Results show a clear shift from early technology-neutral sustainability rhetoric to a more explicit policy framework focusing on industrial localization, charging infrastructure growth, renewable energy integration, and regulatory development after 2020. Despite these advances, gaps remain in governance coordination, market readiness, charging accessibility, and user adoption incentives. The paper provides a systematically mapped view of Saudi Arabia’s e-mobility policy landscape and places it within global transition trends. The findings offer practical insights for policymakers aiming to strengthen implementation, accelerate adoption, and align transport electrification with national decarbonization goals.