ART Elite and SelfDrive Mobility announce strategic alliance to drive digital car leasing

ART Elite Car Rental LLC, part of Elite Group Holding, has signed a strategic partnership with SelfDrive Mobility to expand its long-term leasing solutions through the SelfDrive dealer-led digital mobility platform. The agreement was formalized at a signing ceremony held on Thursday, 27 August 2026, marking the official start of the partnership.

The partnership combines ART Elite's vehicle leasing capabilities, fleet strength, and operational expertise with SelfDrive Mobility’s technology-led digital mobility platform, established customer base, and end-to-end digital distribution capabilities, creating a scalable new channel for long-term mobility solutions across the UAE.

The collaboration will primarily feature vehicles from JETOUR and SOUEAST, giving customers access to a diverse portfolio of modern SUVs under flexible long-term leasing terms.

Strong Start, Clear Growth Trajectory

The partnership has gained strong early momentum, with 100 vehicles pre-booked through SelfDrive in August 2026 alone, a clear signal of customer demand for flexible, digitally accessible leasing. Building on this early success, ART Elite is well positioned to scale to more than 50 bookings every month, paving the way toward more than 600 vehicle bookings annually.

How It Works

SelfDrive will offer 12- and 24-month vehicle leasing options across JETOUR and SOUEAST models via its app, AI, and web platforms, making it seamless for customers to select their favourite models, while ART Elite manages the complete leasing fulfilment process end-to-end, including eligibility review, documentation, vehicle allocation, delivery, and ongoing lease support. Bookings are routed through the SelfDrive dealer dashboard, with final confirmation subject to ART Elite's standard leasing, documentation, credit, and eligibility procedures.

Strategic Significance

The collaboration marks an important step in ART Elite's digital mobility strategy, positioning SelfDrive Mobility as a long-term strategic distribution partner rather than a one-off sales channel. It also strengthens the presence of JETOUR and SOUEAST within the UAE's leasing market, introducing both brands to a wider digital-first customer base.

This partnership with SelfDrive marks a significant step forward in our digital leasing strategy. With 100 units already booked in our first month alone, we’re seeing strong validation of the demand for flexible, digitally accessible mobility solutions in the UAE. JETOUR and SOUEAST are perfectly positioned to lead this growth, and we’re excited to build a long-term, scalable channel with SelfDrive that makes long-term leasing more convenient for customers across the region.

— Mr. Haroon Hayat, Group CFO

SelfDrive's success is built on an OEM & dealer-backed ecosystem that uses technology to connect customers with automotive partners and vehicle inventory at scale. Our partnership with ART Elite strengthens this model by combining their leasing and fleet capabilities with our digital platform and market reach. The strong early response reinforces the potential of this segment, and our broader ambition is to build a 3,000-car leasing portfolio through this ecosystem, offering customers greater choice, flexibility, and accessibility.

— Ms. Lakshmi Manoj, Chief Operating Officer, SelfDrive Mobility