Tesla’s Rocket-Powered Roadster Arrives on UAE Booking List, With a Catch

Tesla’s UAE website is now accepting reservations for the long-awaited second-generation Roadster, giving prospective buyers access to two versions of the high-performance electric sports car at reservation deposits of Dh210,000 and Dh1.02 million, respectively. A third, more advanced version remains available by invitation only.

The reservation launch follows the unveiling of the redesigned Roadster by Tesla chief executive Elon Musk at an event in Texas on October 15. The demonstration showcased a range of unusual capabilities, including mid-air manoeuvres using rocket-style thrusters and driving upside down with the aid of a suction system. The technology was developed with input from SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace company.

The entry-level Performance version requires an initial payment of Dh20,000, which Tesla describes as fully refundable, followed by a further Dh190,000 within 10 days. The total reservation deposit is Dh210,000. The limited-release Thrust version requires the same initial payment, followed by Dh1 million within 10 days, bringing its total reservation amount to Dh1.02 million. Tesla limits the Thrust reservation to one per customer.

These figures are not the cars’ final selling prices. Tesla’s reservation agreement states that the vehicle remains under development and that its options, features and hardware are still being worked on. The final purchase price will be determined when customers configure their vehicles, meaning the substantial payments currently required secure a place in the reservation process rather than constitute a completed vehicle purchase.

Tesla says the Performance model is designed for road use and features active aerodynamics and a multi-mode suction system intended to improve grip and handling. The Thrust version adds acceleration thrusters, with the company claiming that the vehicle can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in less than one second.

The third variant, known as the Rocket, is described by Tesla as a single-seater equipped with a full flight system. It uses cold-gas thrusters positioned around the vehicle to enable upward and forward movement and sideways rotation while airborne. However, Tesla has made this version available by invitation only and explicitly states that it is not approved for public-road use. Its reservation amount has not been disclosed.

Despite the high reservation deposits, buyers cannot yet establish when they will receive their vehicles. Tesla’s agreement expressly states that no delivery date is offered, implied or guaranteed, and that the company accepts no liability for delays. Musk has said production is expected to begin in 2028, but the company has not announced a confirmed customer-delivery schedule.

The Roadster has been one of Tesla’s most delayed projects. The company first unveiled the second-generation model in 2017 and initially targeted deliveries for 2020. The latest version represents a significant evolution of the original concept, with Musk and Tesla engineers highlighting extreme acceleration and new propulsion technologies as central features. Reuters reported that Tesla now claims a top speed exceeding 370 kilometres per hour and a range of more than 480 kilometres on a single charge. These are manufacturer-reported performance figures rather than independently established results from production vehicles.

The UAE reservation launch comes as Tesla continues to position itself around high-performance electric vehicles while also investing heavily in autonomous driving technology and robotics. The Roadster is unlikely to be a mass-market vehicle given its substantial reservation requirements and specialized design, but it provides a showcase for the company’s engineering ambitions and its collaboration with SpaceX.

For prospective UAE buyers, the immediate consideration is therefore not simply whether to pay Dh210,000 or more for a new electric supercar, but whether to commit substantial funds to a vehicle whose final price, production timetable and delivery date remain uncertain. Tesla’s reservation terms make clear that securing a place in the queue is only the first step towards a purchase, with the eventual cost and availability still to be determined.