UAE Confirmed for Key Races in FIA 2026 Championships

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Photo: WAM

The UAE will continue to shine in the world of motorsports in 2026. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has officially announced its major racing events for 2026, and the UAE is once again a big part of it.

One of the biggest highlights is the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will take place at the Yas Marina Circuit from December 4th to 6th, 2026. This special race will feature the next generation of Formula 1 cars that will run completely on 100% sustainable fuel, helping to protect the environment.

This exciting news was shared at the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting held in Macau on Tuesday. The meeting was led by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and attended by motorsport experts from around the world.

In 2026, there will also be three other Formula 1 races in the Middle East:

• Bahrain (April 10th to 12th)

• Saudi Arabia (April 17th to 19th)

• Qatar (November 27th to 29th)

Saudi Arabia will also host two back-to-back races in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on February 13th and 14th in Jeddah.

The Formula 2 Championship will also have four races in the Middle East, taking place alongside the Formula 1 events in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.

The Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia will begin the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship from January 3rd to 17th, 2026. Another major rally event, the Rally du Maroc, is set for September 28th to October 3rd. The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will happen from November 22nd to 27th.

In the FIA Formula 3 Championship, Bahrain will be the only Middle East country featured in the ten-round schedule.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem shared his excitement, saying, “2025 is already an exciting year for our championships. We’re seeing amazing new technology, young talented drivers, and thrilling races happening every week.”

Meanwhile, the rules for the World Rally Championship (WRC) for 2027 are being finalized. The FIA has confirmed that car makers will have more freedom in designing their cars. As long as the car body fits in a certain size zone, it can be any shape—like a sedan, hatchback, crossover, or a custom design.

This new rule will stay in place until 2037, making it easier for car companies to try creative designs without affecting how the car performs in races.

In short, the UAE and the Middle East are becoming even more important in global motorsports, and 2026 promises to be another exciting year for racing fans.