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Cadillac’s LYRIQ “Al Awael” Has Arrived In The UAE & Kuwait
The carmaker’s latest electric vehicle offers high levels of luxury and comfort, plus premium in-car entertainment and active road-noise cancellation.
Cadillac has brought its first-ever electric vehicle, the LYRIQ, to the UAE and Kuwait. The new model will roll out first as a special edition called Al Awael — meaning “the firsts” in Arabic.
The carmaker initially launched the LYRIQ in the USA and China before unveiling the EV in the Middle East. The limited edition version of this hotly-anticipated SUV comes in a Celestial Metallic armor color, with an Oxford Stone interior, exclusive badging, and a panoramic roof. Single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor (500hp) all-wheel-drive versions are available, with the former achieving up to 494 km of range per charge from its 102-kilowatt-hour battery.
The Al Awael’s interior features laser-etched patterns on its wood-over-metal décor, plus a large, curved 33-inch diagonal LED screen. On-board tech includes built-in Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while Active Noise Cancellation intelligently assesses wind and vibration and uses a premium AKG speaker system to cancel road-induced noise.
Also Read: WeRide Granted First Self-Driving Vehicle License In UAE
“Our journey to an all-electric future starts now with the epitome of sophistication, the exquisite LYRIQ. Powered by General Motors Ultium platform and curated with over 120 years of Cadillac’s design craftsmanship, it combines looks, performance, advanced technology, and exclusivity to provide an unparalleled driving experience,” announced Kristian Aquilina, Managing Director of Cadillac International Operations and Cadillac Middle East.
“With LYRIQ Al Awael, the first electric vehicle to reach our region, we invite loyalists, pioneers, and optimists to inaugurate the new era of luxury electric mobility and lead the way forward,” he added.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips
The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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