The RAM 1500 HEMI V8 UAE line-up is back. Al-Futtaim, RAM's official distributor here, confirmed on 30 September 2026 that the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 returns on three trims (Rebel, Limited and Limited Night Edition) after a period when UAE buyers could only get the twin-turbocharged straight-six. The V8 went back on sale in late September. The market noticed: RAM 1500 page views on CarsClub rose from 1,328 to 5,092 in thirty days, a 283% jump tracking the announcement almost exactly.
What Al-Futtaim Actually Announced
The engine is the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 with eTorque, Stellantis's belt-driven mild-hybrid system that restarts the engine and fills low-rev torque gaps rather than driving the truck on its own. CarSwitch, reporting on 4 October 2026, put the output at 395 hp and the starting price at roughly AED 300,000, listing AED 299,900 in its comparison table. Treat that as a market-reported figure: Al-Futtaim's announcement, carried by Business Today Middle East, quoted Trading Enterprises managing director Carlos Montenegro on the brand's owners but published no price list and no power figure. Ask your dealer for the current sheet, and confirm the truck is GCC specification rather than an American-spec import: the cooling and warranty differences matter far more here than in Michigan.
The Three Trims and Which One Is the Value Buy
| Trim | What it adds over the one below | Notable kit |
|---|---|---|
| Rebel | Performance suspension, locking rear diff, skid plates, all-terrain tyres, sport hood | 14.4-in Uconnect, 19-speaker Harman Kardon, panoramic roof |
| Limited | Premium leather for five, real wood accents | Same screen, audio and roof as Rebel |
| Limited Night Edition | 22-in black alloys, black exterior trim | Otherwise identical to Limited |
The conclusion to draw from that table is that the Rebel is the value buy, and it is not close. The big screen, the 19-speaker system and the panoramic roof are standard across all three, so the Limited's premium buys leather and wood veneer. The Rebel's buys a locking rear differential, skid plates and raised suspension: hardware you cannot retrofit cheaply, and which earns its keep on a Liwa weekend. The Limited Night Edition is a wheel-and-trim package: buy it because you want black 22s, not because you are getting more truck. Be honest about those 22s, too: low-profile tyres ride noticeably harder on UAE road joints than the Rebel's all-terrains, and cost more to replace.
HEMI V8 vs the Hurricane Six: The Trade You Are Making
Here is the uncomfortable part. The HEMI's 395 hp, as reported by CarSwitch, is lower than the twin-turbo 3.0-litre Hurricane straight-six that replaced it in the 1500 line-up. On paper, going back to the V8 is a downgrade. You are not buying it for the numbers.
What you are buying is a naturally aspirated engine with no turbochargers to heat-soak, a sound the six cannot imitate, and a service network that has maintained 5.7 HEMIs here for two decades: independent workshops in Al Quoz and Sharjah know the engine, and parts are everywhere. The Hurricane is newer, more efficient and more powerful, but it is also a high-pressure forced-induction unit in a market where temperatures hit the high forties and many owners tow. Keep trucks three years and want outright performance, take the six; keep them eight and want simplicity, take the V8. Al-Futtaim has not published whether both remain available on every trim, so confirm which engine a specific unit carries rather than assuming the badge.
What It Costs to Run in the UAE
Running costs are where a full-size pickup stops being a lifestyle decision and starts being a monthly bill. UAE fuel prices for October 2026 were set at AED 4.28 a litre for Special 95 and AED 4.40 for Super 98, with diesel at AED 4.80: the Special 95 figure was up roughly 16% on the month, which is a bad month to buy a V8. Check the current month on our UAE petrol prices page before budgeting; the monthly reset can move a big truck's fuel bill by AED 150 or more.
A 98-litre tank at AED 4.28 is about AED 419 to brim. Drive 1,500 km a month in a truck this size and you are filling up three times, so plan on AED 1,200 to AED 1,300 a month in fuel alone. Add Salik at AED 4 off-peak and AED 6 at peak per gate: our guide to Salik charges breaks the windows down. Insurance on a near-AED 300,000 truck sits well above a mid-size SUV, and the Rebel's all-terrain tyres are a consumable.
What the Return Does to Used RAM 1500 Prices
This matters whether you are buying or selling. CarsClub has 69 active RAM 1500 listings spanning 2020 to 2026 between AED 125,000 and AED 359,999, with the live RAM 1500 listings page showing 107 ads. CarSwitch's July 2026 stock put a 2023 at around AED 214,900 and a 2022 at AED 174,950.
The logic runs in two directions. Pre-Hurricane trucks (the ones that already have the 5.7 V8) have just had their main selling point validated by the manufacturer, which supports values at the top of that range. Meanwhile the Hurricane-only model years sit in an awkward middle: newer than the old V8 trucks, but no longer the only way to get a 1500. Run your plate through our RAM 1500 valuation tool rather than guessing from a forum thread. If you are buying used, a V8 truck with full Al-Futtaim history is the one to chase.
Rivals Already on CarsClub
The 1500's direct UAE competition is the Ford F-150, GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado, and a size down, the Toyota Hilux and incoming Nissan Navara Pro. Browse the full pickup trucks for sale in the UAE category to compare live prices across all of them, and see our best pickup trucks in Dubai guide for the segment view. For a new truck, start with new RAM listings, and let the car loan calculator show what AED 300,000 looks like monthly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which RAM 1500 trims get the HEMI V8 in the UAE?
Al-Futtaim confirmed the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 on three trims: Rebel, Limited and Limited Night Edition. The announcement did not state whether the Hurricane straight-six continues alongside it on those same trims, so confirm the engine in a specific vehicle with the dealer rather than relying on the trim name.
How much does the RAM 1500 HEMI V8 cost in the UAE?
CarSwitch reported a starting price of around AED 300,000 in October 2026, listing AED 299,900. Al-Futtaim has not published a price list figure that we could verify, so treat that as market-reported rather than official. Used 2020 to 2026 RAM 1500s on CarsClub currently run from AED 125,000.
Is the HEMI V8 more powerful than the Hurricane six?
No. The HEMI is reported at 395 hp, which is below the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six it rejoins. The V8's appeal is character, simplicity and a long-established local service network rather than outright output, which is a genuine trade rather than a straight upgrade.
What does a RAM 1500 cost to run each month in the UAE?
Budget roughly AED 1,200 to AED 1,300 a month in fuel for 1,500 km of driving at October 2026's AED 4.28 per litre for Special 95, plus Salik at AED 4 off-peak or AED 6 at peak per gate, insurance on a near-AED 300,000 vehicle, and tyres as a recurring cost.
Does the HEMI's return affect used RAM 1500 values?
It supports values on pre-Hurricane trucks that already have the 5.7 V8, since the manufacturer has just endorsed the engine. Hurricane-only model years lose a little of their exclusivity. Check a specific vehicle with the CarsClub valuation tool rather than applying a general rule.
The Bottom Line
The HEMI V8's return is a character decision dressed up as a product launch, and that is fine, just buy it with open eyes. The Rebel is the trim worth your money, the fuel bill is real at October's prices, and the truck is slower than the engine it sits alongside. If none of that puts you off, you are exactly who it was built for. Start with the full RAM 1500 inventory on CarsClub to see today's asking prices, and check all RAM listings for the wider range.
