The Motorsport in the Arab World is booming unlike ever before. From state-of-the-art Formula 1 circuits to adrenaline-fueled drifting competitions and grueling desert rallies, the Middle East has cemented itself as a rising power on the global racing stage. Major events like the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Qatar Grand Prix, and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix now headline the international calendar, backed by massive infrastructure investments and a flourishing homegrown racing culture. In countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and beyond, motorsport is more than just entertainment – it’s a catalyst for economic growth, youth engagement, and national pride . This article explores the growth and significance of motorsport in the Arab world, focusing on Formula 1’s expansion into the Middle East, the rise of drifting in the Gulf, the rich tradition of rally racing, and the development of regional talent and motorsport culture.
Formula 1 Finds a Home in the Middle East
Not long ago, the idea of multiple Formula 1 races in the Middle East seemed far-fetched. Today, it’s reality. “Who would have thought that we would have four Formula 1 races in this small region? It’s crazy and of course this is a huge step for the region in motorsport,” reflected former Bahraini racer Hamad Al Fardan . Indeed, the Gulf now hosts four F1 Grands Prix – a remarkable share of the 24-race world championship calendar . The Bahrain Grand Prix at Sakhir, first run in 2004, was the trailblazer. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit followed in 2009, bringing F1 to the UAE’s capital on a lavish new track built on Yas Island. Abu Dhabi’s government reportedly spent US$40 billion developing Yas Island – complete with a marina, hotels, and theme parks – to create a world-class motorsport venue . The investment paid off: Abu Dhabi now often hosts F1’s season finale under floodlights, an iconic twilight spectacle that has put the UAE on the racing map.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have joined the F1 fold, underscoring what observers call a “shifting of the sands” in global motorsport . The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix debuted in 2021 on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit – a lightning-fast street track snaking along the Red Sea coast. Organizers built the Jeddah circuit in record time to meet F1’s standards, and it delivered instantly memorable night races. The event is part of a broader Saudi push into elite motorsport as the Kingdom eyes a permanent home for F1 at the planned Qiddiya Speed Park in coming years . Next door, the Qatar Grand Prix made its first appearance in 2021 at the Lusail (Losail) International Circuit. Originally a MotoGP venue, Losail underwent major upgrades before securing a ten-year F1 deal starting in 2023 . Qatar built a new paddock complex, expanded grandstands to 40,000 capacity, added multiple tunnels for spectators, and resurfaced the track – signaling that it views F1 as its new post-World Cup showcase . As Amro Al-Hamad, CEO of Qatar’s motorsport federation, put it: “We are the new World Cup for the next 10 years,” highlighting the ambition behind Qatar’s F1 project .
With Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE all hosting races, “Formula 1 Middle East” has become a reality. The Middle East now bookends the F1 season, with Bahrain often opening the championship and Abu Dhabi closing it . These Gulf races offer a unique blend of sporting excitement and glamour – from the waterfront vistas of Yas Marina to Jeddah’s high-speed street thrills and Qatar’s desert backdrop. They have also brought tangible benefits. Regional governments leverage F1 to spur tourism, global branding, and economic diversification. In Saudi Arabia, for example, hosting F1 is part of Vision 2030 reforms – the Kingdom has funneled over $6 billion into sports since 2021, using marquee events like the Jeddah Grand Prix to boost tourism, create jobs, and signal a new, dynamic national image . Each race weekend sees hotels at full occupancy and flights sold out, with local businesses from luxury malls to food trucks riding the wave of visiting fans . The economic impact is now backed by hard data: the Saudi Grand Prix has attracted six-figure visitor numbers annually since its inception, supporting the idea that motorsport can be a powerful engine for non-oil revenue .
Building World-Class Circuits and Infrastructure
Underpinning Formula 1’s Middle Eastern expansion is a spree of infrastructure investment unprecedented in motorsport. Each host nation has poured resources into building world-class circuits and surrounding entertainment complexes. Abu Dhabi’s aforementioned Yas Marina Circuit set the template with its lavish Yas Island development . Bahrain’s International Circuit in the desert of Sakhir was another early milestone, proving a Middle Eastern country could design and run a top-tier racetrack from scratch back in 2004. Today, newer venues are following suit: the temporary Jeddah Corniche Circuit will eventually give way to Qiddiya, a future motorsport city outside Riyadh featuring a purpose-built F1 track and even a theme park. Plans indicate Qiddiya’s “Speed Park” circuit (due around 2027) comes with an investment of roughly $480 million for its initial phase , part of a broader drive to make Saudi Arabia a “global hub for elite sports and entertainment” .
Qatar’s Losail Circuit, too, exemplifies the region’s commitment to top-notch infrastructure. In preparation for annual F1 races, Qatar constructed new pit garages, a state-of-the-art media center and race control, and dramatically improved fan amenities in and around the track . The circuit now boasts 50 pit boxes – more than any other F1 venue – and multiple new spectator tunnels to streamline crowd flow . Such enhancements ensure that Middle Eastern Grands Prix can rival the best in terms of facilities and spectator experience.
Beyond Formula 1, Gulf states have built tracks to host other international series and nurture local racing. The Yas Marina Circuit doubles as a year-round driving academy and home to regional racing series. Dubai Autodrome in the UAE and Kuwait Motor Town (opened in 2019) host GT and endurance races, offering local drivers a proving ground. Even Losail and Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit regularly feature events like MotoGP, the World Endurance Championship, and formula feeder series. These investments reflect a strategy noted by industry analysts: Middle Eastern economies see motorsport as “critical to their economic diversification” and have “invested enormous sums to position the region as a key player in the global motorsport industry”, developing a thriving ecosystem of events and facilities . The result is an increasingly self-sufficient motorsport hub – one where a Grand Prix fan can travel from a Formula E night race in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, to an endurance sports-car race in Bahrain, to a Formula 1 finale in Abu Dhabi, all within the same region .
Rally Racing Across Deserts and Dunes
While gleaming F1 circuits grab headlines, the Arab world’s rally racing heritage runs far deeper – forged on the rugged trails and desert expanses of the Middle East. Long before F1 arrived, rallies were the motorsport of choice for many Arab enthusiasts, and today rallying is enjoying a renaissance alongside circuit racing. The region’s crowning jewel in this arena is the Dakar Rally, the world’s most famous endurance off-road race. In 2020, Saudi Arabia made history by bringing Dakar to Asia for the first time, and the Kingdom has hosted it every year since . For two weeks each January, international rally raid teams join Saudi and Gulf competitors to tackle the Kingdom’s breathtaking landscapes – from the dunes of the Empty Quarter to rocky mountain passes. The Dakar Rally’s arrival “established the Kingdom as a global hub for motorsports”, according to Saudi organizers, and reinforced the country’s commitment to Vision 2030 . It has also spread to neighboring countries: recent Dakar routes have extended into the UAE’s deserts and could include other Gulf states, underscoring regional cooperation in motorsport .
The Middle East also boasts its own rally championship tradition. The FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), founded in 1984, has seen rally cars tear through the gravel and sand of Jordan’s valleys, Oman’s wadis, the mountains of Lebanon, and the Arabian Peninsula’s open deserts for decades. Rally legends like Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah (a multiple Dakar Rally winner and Olympic athlete) and the UAE’s Mohammed Ben Sulayem (14-time MERC champion) have become household names in the region. Ben Sulayem – now president of the FIA, motorsport’s world governing body – famously dominated rallies from the 1980s through 2000s across the Gulf, Jordan, and even Syria . His success inspired a generation, and his current role underscores the Middle East’s new influence in global motorsport governance. “Rallying and motorsport are my passion… it is great news that the Middle East is hosting more and more races,” Ben Sulayem said upon taking the FIA helm, noting with pride that he is the first non-European to lead the federation .
Local rally events are also thriving. The UAE’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, a challenging cross-country rally, has been running since 1991 and remains a key stop on the world off-road championship. In Saudi Arabia, a national rally championship feeds talent into bigger stages, and even women’s participation is on the rise. In 2022, Saudi drivers Mashael Al Obaidan and Dania Akeel made history as the first women from their country to compete in the Dakar Rally, finishing the punishing event with flying colors . Events like Rally Jameel, a women-only navigational rally in Saudi Arabia, further illustrate how motorsport is intersecting with social change and inclusive participation. Meanwhile, “Arab rally drivers” continue to shine abroad – Al-Attiyah, for instance, clinched his fifth Dakar victory in 2023, bringing pride to Qatar and the region, and younger talents are making their way into international rally raids and even the World Rally Championship’s support categories.
Drifting and a Thriving Motorsport Culture in the Gulf
Beyond the formal circuits and rally stages, the Middle East has nurtured a vibrant grassroots motorsport culture – perhaps most evident in the exploding popularity of drifting in the Gulf. Drifting, the art of controlling a car in lurid slides, has deep cultural roots in the region. In Saudi Arabia, unregulated street drifting known as “tafheet” was a notorious youth pastime for decades, with daredevils skidding across empty roads to spectators’ cheers . What was once an underground (and dangerous) subculture is now evolving into an organized sport that is captivating young Arabs under safer conditions. Professional drifting competitions have swept across the Middle East, giving enthusiasts an outlet for their passion. Chief among these is the Red Bull Car Park Drift series – a touring championship that holds qualifier events in numerous Arab countries, culminating in a grand World Final each year. In December 2022, Saudi Arabia hosted the Red Bull Car Park Drift World Final at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, turning the F1 track into a smoking playground for drift cars . The event drew 24 elite drifters from 18 countries – including entrants from across the Gulf and as far as South Africa and Jamaica – making it the largest lineup in the competition’s 14-year history . Grandstands in Jeddah were packed with thousands of roaring fans as drivers swung their cars sideways through obstacles, proof that drifting has truly gone mainstream in the region . In the end, Egypt’s Hisham Al-Khatib was crowned “King of Drift,” while drifters from Oman and Iraq took second and third, underscoring the breadth of talent emerging from the Arab world .
The Gulf’s drift scene is bolstered by regional heroes and mentors. Lebanese rally and drift ace Abdo Feghali – a multiple champion drifter – has become the figurehead of the Red Bull series, designing courses and coaching drivers. “This was a dream event from start to finish… the track was so fast, so technical,” Feghali said of the Jeddah final, praising the local Saudi drifting talent and the electric energy from the crowd . Other Gulf nations are eagerly joining the act: Oman, for example, hosted the Red Bull Car Park Drift World Final in 2016 and again in 2024, showcasing Muscat as a drifting hotspot. Local clubs and racing facilities in the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar also organize drift nights, drag racing events, and autocross competitions that draw amateur drivers by the dozens. The motorsport culture is undeniably growing at the grassroots – weekend enthusiasts take their sports cars and modified machines to tracks like Dubai Autodrome or Bahrain’s drag strip to test their skills, rather than on public roads. Car clubs and social media groups have sprouted, uniting a young fanbase that lives and breathes engines and tire smoke.
Underneath this enthusiasm is a broader cultural current. The Arabian Gulf’s love affair with the automobile – evident in the prevalence of supercars on city streets – naturally extends to racing. Motorsports offer a way to celebrate both modernity and heritage: the roar of engines echoes the region’s historic horsemanship and camel racing traditions, but in a futuristic, high-tech setting. At major races, spectators from all walks of life come together. Notably, events like the Saudi Grand Prix have seen families, including women and children, filling the stands – a striking image considering that just a few years ago women in Saudi Arabia were not even permitted to drive. Now they not only drive, but also race and spectate in large numbers, reflecting rapid social change. Concerts and festivals are frequently tied into race weekends (global superstars from Bruno Mars to DJ Snake have performed at F1 after-race concerts in Abu Dhabi and Doha ), turning these events into cultural festivals that blend sport with entertainment. All of this has helped make motorsport more accessible and appealing to the general public, expanding its fanbase beyond niche enthusiasts.
Nurturing Regional Talent and Youth Engagement
As the Middle East’s motorsport footprint grows, attention is turning to cultivating homegrown talent – the drivers, engineers, and teams who can carry the Arab flag onto podiums. Historically, the region produced few international racing drivers due to limited local infrastructure and high costs. That is rapidly changing. Grassroots development programs, academies, and youth initiatives are springing up across the Gulf to identify and train the next generation of racers. For example, Saudi Arabia launched the “Saudi Young Stars” karting program, which aims to “break down barriers in motorsport, making it more accessible to a diverse cross section of kids throughout the Kingdom and inspire the next generation to follow a career in Saudi Arabia’s flourishing motorsports sector.” . Open to children as young as six with no prior experience, this initiative teaches karting skills and even introduces youth to the engineering side of racing, planting seeds for future drivers and technicians .
At the more advanced level, national motorsport federations are directly backing promising talent. The Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation, for instance, rolled out a “Saudi Next Gen” program in 2025 to nurture young rally drivers . Five up-and-coming Saudi drivers (including two female competitors) were selected for intensive training and even entered into the 2025 Dakar Rally under this program . They underwent a special training camp and received mentorship from veteran Saudi rally stars like Yazeed Al-Rajhi, with the top team earning a spot in Dakar 2026 . This kind of structured pathway is new to the region and reflects a broader commitment to empowering youth in motorsports. It also aligns with what local drivers have been calling for: clearer development pathways and more investment in grassroots racing . As Al Fardan noted, Gulf countries have talented youngsters but “need to invest in drivers and in championships to increase participation” so that one day an Arab driver can compete at the pinnacle of Formula 1 .
There are encouraging signs in junior formulae and karting. The UAE hosts one of the world’s most competitive winter karting scenes and a Formula 4 UAE championship that has attracted international entrants while giving local teens a platform. In 2024, over 150 competitors from 16 nations took part in the MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup, a regional karting showdown designed to spur local participation . Across the UAE, 73% of surveyed youth say they want more motorsport events and are eager to see local drivers rise, according to a recent study . This surging interest has led to new karting tracks, club races, and driver schools from Muscat to Jeddah. Even internationally, Middle Eastern names are appearing more often – whether it’s young Emirati racers like Amna Al Qubaisi (who has competed in Formula 3 and was the first Arab woman to win a Formula 4 race) or Saudi’s Reema Juffali, who started in British Formula 3 and now runs her own racing team to mentor compatriots. The talent pipeline is finally being built.
Conclusion: A Motorsport Movement Accelerating
In a short span, the Middle East has gone from the periphery of motorsport to its global center stage. The region’s Grand Prix races now serve as tentpoles of the F1 season, and names like Yas Marina Circuit, Jeddah Corniche Circuit, and Losail International Circuit have joined the lexicon of famous tracks alongside Silverstone and Monza. Meanwhile, Arab rally drivers and bikers battle the world’s best in events like the Dakar Rally on their home turf, and local drifting champions ignite the passion of thousands of young fans. Crucially, Gulf governments and private investors show no signs of lifting off the throttle – they view motorsport as a strategic asset, fueling tourism, innovation, and even national identity. “The Middle East motorsport landscape is now rich and flourishing,” as one account noted, with F1 in multiple countries and flagship endurance and rally events adding further color . This boom has also been a point of pride: the first Arab FIA President is steering the sport’s future, and Middle Eastern sponsors (from Saudi Aramco as a global F1 partner to Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways lending their names to Grands Prix) are deeply intertwined with international motorsport .
Perhaps most importantly, a genuine motorsport culture has taken root among the people. Across the Arab world, motorsport is no longer seen as a distant spectacle – it’s a local affair, one that families attend, youth participate in, and communities rally around. From the roars at rally stages in the Jordanian desert to the drift exhibitions on a Friday night in Dubai, the motorsport movement in the Arab world is accelerating fast. And as new heroes emerge and checkered flags wave in Doha, Jeddah, Manama, and Abu Dhabi, one thing is clear: this is just the beginning of a long and thrilling ride. Motorsport in the Arab world has entered a golden era, and the whole world is taking notice.
