The UAE will take centre stage in international motorsport between November 5 and December 6, hosting three major events across Dubai and Abu Dhabi as six international championships reach their season finales.
The 31-day programme will begin with the Dubai International
Baja from 5–8 November, followed by the 35th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge from November
22–27, before culminating in the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
at Yas Marina Circuit from December 4–6.
The packed calendar will bring championship-deciding action
across Baja, rally raid and circuit racing, with titles settled and champions
crowned on UAE soil.
The Dubai International Baja will host the final rounds of
the FIA World Baja Cup and FIA Middle East Baja Cup, alongside the penultimate
round of the FIM Bajas World Cup.
Competitors will battle across four days of desert racing as
the season’s remaining points determine the championship outcomes.
Attention will then shift to Abu Dhabi, where the Abu Dhabi
Desert Challenge will host the final rounds of the FIA and FIM World Rally-Raid
Championships.
Organised by the Emirates Motorsports Organization (EMSO) in
collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the 35th edition will provide
the decisive test for competitors following a demanding international season.
The month will conclude at Yas Marina Circuit, where Formula
1 and Formula 2 will stage their 2026 championship finales.
With six Formula 1 rounds remaining before the season-ending
Grand Prix, the championship picture is still developing, setting the stage for
a potentially dramatic showdown under the lights.
Yas Marina Circuit has previously witnessed memorable
title-deciding moments, adding further anticipation to a weekend that will
determine the final race winner and settle championship positions.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said: “The
closing weeks of 2026 will underline the UAE’s significance on the
international motorsport calendar. From Baja and rally raid to Formula 1, the
country will host the decisive stages of several major international
championships within the space of one month.
“This concentration of competition reflects many years of
investment in motorsport, strong sporting institutions and, importantly,
collaboration. Our Member Club EMSO, together with promoters, organisers,
government partners, officials and volunteers, plays an important role in
delivering international competition to the highest standards.
“For the FIA, this is also about the future. We must
continue to support the safe and sustainable growth of motorsport, create
opportunities for the next generation and strengthen our sport internationally.
The UAE has an important role to play in that continued development.”
Khalid Ben Sulayem, President of EMSO, said: “To have FIA
Baja titles decided in Dubai, world rally raid champions crowned at the Abu
Dhabi Desert Challenge and Formula 1 close its season at Yas Marina Circuit
within the space of one month is a powerful reflection of the strength and
depth of motorsport in the UAE.
“For EMSO, the legacy is equally important: the partnerships
behind these events, the expertise they develop and the opportunities they give
Emirati officials, volunteers and young people to work alongside international
motorsport at the highest level. That is what allows us to keep building beyond
the events themselves.”
Saif Al Noaimi, Chief Executive Officer of Ethara, said the
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix would provide a fitting conclusion to the season, bringing
together teams, drivers and fans from around the world.
The concentration of events is also expected to generate
activity across tourism, hospitality, transport and other service sectors,
supported by extensive international television, digital and social media
coverage.
Beyond the immediate sporting outcomes, the programme will
provide Emirati officials, volunteers and aspiring motorsport professionals
with opportunities to gain experience alongside international competitors and
organisations.
Through collaboration with the FIA, FIM, government
stakeholders, promoters and event partners, EMSO continues to support the safe
delivery and long-term development of motorsport in the Emirates.
From the desert stages of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Formula 1’s final showdown at Yas Marina Circuit, the month will showcase the UAE’s infrastructure, organisational expertise and growing influence on the global motorsport calendar. -TradeArabia News Service