Middle East Motorsport's Rapid Rise — How UAE and Saudi Arabia Are Reshaping Rally
It is not just petrodollars. Local driver development and crowd engagement are generating real sporting culture
The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are redrawing the world map of motorsport. Following the establishment of the Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, both nations are now recording rapid expansion across three axes in rally competition: participant base, spectator attendance, and local driver development.
The latest data from the UAE Motorsport Federation shows that the number of UAE domestic rally competition licence holders grew by 23 percent year-on-year in 2025. Notably, approximately 40 percent of that increase came from UAE nationals aged 18 to 25. In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Motorsport Company's youth development programme produced eight graduates in 2024 with WRC Academy nomination credentials, with two of them competing in JWRC in 2026 — the first time Arab drivers have competed at that level.
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