Doha’s automotive calendar is about to get busier, with the 2026 Arab Car of the Year awards returning to the Qatari capital this October.
The event will bring carmakers, executives, motoring media and enthusiasts together at Raffles Doha, while also introducing the first Asia Car of the Year awards as a companion platform.
For a region where luxury, performance, electrification and technology now compete for the same buyer’s attention, the timing feels sharp.
At a glance
- The 2026 Arab Car of the Year awards will take place in Doha this October.
- Vehicles will be judged across design, performance, safety and technology.
- The debuting Asia Car of the Year awards will spotlight vehicles manufactured in Asian countries, with emphasis on Japan, China and South Korea.
Raffles Doha gives the ceremony a suitably elevated setting
The 2026 edition will be staged at Raffles Doha, one of Qatar’s most recognisable luxury hospitality addresses.
The format is being refined this year, with an exclusive awards ceremony followed by a formal gala dinner for automotive executives, media representatives and industry figures from across the region.
That more polished setting fits the role ARABCOTY has carved out for itself in the Middle East, where awards programmes increasingly function as both consumer guides and industry signals.
Organised by Maqina, the awards are positioned around independent evaluation rather than public popularity alone, with a jury drawn from motoring journalists, automotive specialists and enthusiasts from across the Arab world.
How the 2026 ARABCOTY field will be judged
The 2026 Arab Car of the Year programme will cover a broad spread of the market, including sedans, SUVs, luxury cars, sports cars, electric vehicles and performance-focused models.
Each contender will be assessed through four core pillars.
- Overall design
- Performance
- Safety
- Technology
Those criteria reflect where the regional market is moving.
Design and performance still matter deeply in the Middle East, but safety systems, electric drivetrains and intelligent in-car technology are now central to how new vehicles are judged.
For buyers, the awards aim to create a clearer frame of comparison in a market crowded with established luxury names, emerging EV players and increasingly sophisticated Asian manufacturers.
Asia Car of the Year expands the awards beyond the Arab world
The major addition for 2026 is the launch of Asia Car of the Year, a new awards platform dedicated to vehicles manufactured in Asian countries.
The programme will focus primarily on Japan, China and South Korea, three markets that now shape everything from mainstream mobility to premium electric cars and advanced driver technology.
ASIACOTY will use a more limited set of main categories, a decision intended to give each title greater weight rather than spreading recognition too thinly.
It also acknowledges how quickly Asian manufacturers have moved from value-led alternatives to global technology leaders, particularly in electrification, software-led interiors and safety innovation.
A regional awards platform with wider ambitions
Tarek Hawchar, Head of Jury and Founder of Maqina, described ARABCOTY as a regional automotive platform shaped by the ambition and transformation of the Middle East car industry.
He also framed the arrival of ASIACOTY as part of a broader celebration of engineering, design and future mobility across both the Arab world and Asia.
That wider lens is important, because the Middle East is no longer just a destination market for high-end vehicles.
It is increasingly a stage where brands test their image, technology and relevance with buyers who expect luxury, durability, performance and innovation in equal measure.
With ARABCOTY returning and ASIACOTY joining the programme for the first time, Doha is set to host more than another awards evening.
It will be a snapshot of how quickly the automotive conversation is changing, and of how much influence the region now has in defining what excellence looks like on the road.
