Latest MG RX9 Price Insights in the UAE—Positioning Against Rival SUVs?

Abu Dhabi: The MG RX9 is a premium 7-seater mid-size SUV newly arrived in the UAE market. Targeted at families who want spaciousness and a well-equipped SUV at a more affordable price range.  Its pricing clearly positioned it in the growing segment dominated by Chinese and value-orientated SUVs brands, where buyers focus more on practicality than on the brand. MG is promising comfort, safety technology, and warranty coverage on the RX9, aiming at practical owners rather than off-road enthusiasts.

Built on a monocoque platform, the RX9 is suitable for highway driving and daily commuting rather than desert adventures. It promises superior ride comfort, cabin space, and ease of use in the city. It takes on some highly regarded rivals, including Jetour and higher-spec Japanese SUVs, and its main advantage is value. The real test will be long-term reliability, service support, and resale performance in the UAE market. We take a look inside the pricing and also tell you how it faces its fierce competitors in the segment. 

 Breaking Down the Price-Feature Balance

The RX9 is retailed in three different variants in the UAE in 2026. The base STD 2WD at AED 99,000 comes well-equipped with 20-inch wheels, dual 12.3-inch displays, three-zone climate control, and a 360-degree camera. The Comfort 4WD costs AED 9,000 more but gets all-wheel drive without many extras, mostly just the drivetrain upgrade.

The luxury 4WD at AED 121,000 makes sense for longer ownership, with extra features like heated and ventilated front seats, memory function, leather upholstery, and MG Pilot Level 2 ADAS with adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking.

What does the pricing difference tell us? The STD variant costs more than Dashing, starting around AED 89,000. The luxury variant undercuts the Toyota RAV4's higher variant substantially, though the RAV4 base starts near AED 99,900.

Variant	Price (AED)	Drive Type	Key Features
STD 2WD	99,000	Front-wheel	20-inch wheels, dual 12.3-inch screens, 3-zone AC, 360 camera
Comfort 4WD	1,08,000	All-wheel	AWD system: similar features to STD
Luxury 4WD	121,000	All-wheel	Leather seats, heated/ventilated front, MG Pilot ADAS

Power and Real-World Performance

At the heart of the performance is the MG’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder churning out 150 hp and 350 Nm through a 9-speed automatic. The brand claims fuel economy claims 16 km/l, but real-world UAE driving in mixed conditions could be around 11-12 km/l. The engine has reasonable power and works hard with seven passengers and luggage. As expected, you get a better throttle response in Sport mode without transforming character. Five drive modes are a great help based on your driving needs, though the off-road setting is optimistic for a crossover on 21-inch wheels.

Where It Stands Against Competition

The Jetour Dashing, priced between AED 89,000 and 109,000, is less expensive overall and features a 1.6-litre turbo engine that produces 194 hp. Its services come with a 10-year/1 million km warranty. The cabin feels less premium, but it costs AED 10,000–12,000 less.

The Toyota RAV4, between AED 99,900 and 139,900, has an established reputation and better resale value. The RAV4 holds 65-70% value after three years versus the RX9's 50-55%. You are paying a premium for the badge and the assurance it provides.

The Nissan X-Trail, which costs AED 101,900-153,000, is another similar size with a proven platform and better dealer network. X-Trail buyers want service accessibility.

The comparison that takes on MG? Undoubtedly The Dashing: same Chinese manufacturing, similar features, lower price, exceptional warranty. MG's brand recognition is stronger, but that gap is closing rather faster than ever. 

Model	Price Range (AED)	Engine	Power	Key Advantage
MG RX9	99,000 - 121,000	2.0L Turbo	150 hp	Warranty, equipment levels
Jetour Dashing	89,000 - 109,000	1.6L Turbo	194 hp	Price, 10-year warranty
Toyota RAV4	99,900 - 139,900	2.5L	203 hp	Resale value, reliability
Nissan X-Trail	101,900 - 153,000	1.5L Turbo	204 hp	Service network

Space, Comfort, and Technology

The RX9 is 4,983 mm long and 1,967 mm wide, interestingly the widest in the segment, and so it feels genuinely spacious. The seven seats come standard, or you can spec a six-seat configuration with captain's chairs. Front seats offer good support with eight-way power adjustment. The second row reclines up to 140 degrees, indeed quite useful for long journeys. The third row suits two adults for short trips if you fold it flat for 1,026 litres of cargo space.

Available Tech

• Dual 12.3-inch screens with clear, responsive displays
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work reliably
• 360-degree camera with decent resolution
• Three-zone automatic climate control with third-row vents
• MG Pilot ADAS on Luxury trim

While most Chinese-branded SUVs are clearly value buys, they offer you a lot at far lower prices than what you are used to seeing in more established brands. This is one way for them to attract buyers who don’t necessarily have the budget or are not very concerned about the brands. 

But one factor that needs your attention is the depreciation, which is rather harsh. Chinese brands lose value faster in the UAE's used market. A three-year-old RX9 retains 50-55% of the purchase price versus the RAV4's 65-70%.

The same is true about the service and parts availability, while most of them are growing fast and making progress in establishing networks and expanding faster. Yet, the work is in progress, and it will take time before it is really near the Japanese or Korean brands. However, the 6-year/200,000 km warranty reduces early ownership anxiety but doesn't necessarily fully alleviate the depreciation. Buy at AED 121,000, sell after five years for AED 55,000-60,000; that's AED 60,000-65,000 depreciation plus financing costs.

Who Should Actually Consider

Despite its pros and maybe some cons, the RX9 does attract serious buyers in various categories. It makes more sense for young families needing seven seats who keep the car 4-5 years. It works for expats on fixed-term contracts where warranty coverage matches ownership horizon. But it may not be an ideal pick for buyers planning 7-10 year ownership and expecting strong resale or those focused on service convenience.

MG positioned the RX9 as premium Chinese rather than a budget alternative. That works in the Luxury variant at AED 121,000, where you get a real seven-seater comfort which is reasonably equipped. But that certainly cannot be claimed for the base STD at AED 99,000, which comes quite close to Dashing's pricing. Buyers at that price point care about value above brand, and Dashing's 10-year warranty trumps MG's 6-year coverage.

Also the competition is not really ideal; it is making movies, where the Chinese brands keep improving while lowering prices. Japanese brands maintain reliability advantages. The RX9 banks on MG's stronger brand awareness in the UAE, a weakening advantage as newer Chinese brands flood in with aggressive pricing.

So in summary, it is fair to say that for buyers valuing comfort and equipment, planning medium-term ownership, and accepting depreciation as a known cost, the RX9 Luxury is certainly a best pick. Just don't expect RAV4 resale values or Dashing pricing. However, before you make a final decision, explore the RX9 and all its rivals in real life, check the space, seven-seat comfort and features, and test drive each one of them to get a real feel. This should help you make the most informed decision for your next seven-seater SUV.

Visit Zigwheels to get all your information, prices, features and comparisons. You could also get the best deal across the UAE.

Also Read: Engine and Performance of the Mitsubishi Destinator for UAE Buyers