UAE Continues to Shine on the Global Motorsport Stage with 2026 FIA Calendar Announcements
The UAE has further reinforced its position as a global motorsport hub with the official confirmation of the FIA’s major world championship calendars for 2026. The much-anticipated Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is set to return to Yas Marina Circuit from 4th to 6th December 2026, headlining a season that will mark the debut of the next generation of F1 cars powered entirely by sustainable fuels.
At the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Macau, presided over by FIA President Mohammed ben Sulayem, leading figures from the global motorsport community convened as part of the Federation’s annual conference to finalize these details.
The 2026 F1 World Championship calendar once more features a strong Middle East presence, with additional rounds in Bahrain (10th to 12th April), Saudi Arabia (17th to 19th April), and Qatar (27th to 29th November).
Saudi Arabia will also host consecutive Jeddah races in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on 13th and 14th February. The region’s commitment to nurturing racing talent continues with four rounds in the 2026 F2 Championship aligning with the F1 events in Bahrain, Saudi, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
The famed Dakar Rally will once again launch the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship in Saudi Arabia from 3rd to 17th January 2026, while the Rally du Maroc is scheduled from 28th September to 3rd October. The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will take place on 22nd to 27th November. Bahrain will represent the Middle East in the ten-round F3 Championship calendar.
“2025 is proving to be an exciting year across all our championships with technological milestones being reached, new talent emerging, and battles being fought on the track and across stages each week.” – FIA President Ben Sulayem
Significant progress has also been made in finalizing the much-discussed WRC27 ruleset. Over the past six months, crucial refinement and adjustment of these regulations culminated in Macau with the definition of reference volumes for bodywork. This innovative framework places flexibility at its core by specifying a designated zone for all bodywork panels. Within this space, manufacturers and constructors are empowered with creative freedom to scale and integrate diverse designs—be it saloons, hatchbacks, cross-overs, or bespoke builds—over the course of a ten-year regulation cycle extending to 2037.
This move guarantees both innovation and manufacturer diversity, all while upholding competitiveness and performance standards across the sport.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
