Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai
Leading international car and motorcycle competitors set to descend on Dubai from 5-8 November for the penultimate round of the FIM Bajas World Cup and the FIA World Baja Cup season finale
Dubai International Baja will also host the final round of the FIA Middle East Baja Cup, alongside the FIM Asia Baja Continental Championship
Dubai Festival City returns as the event headquarters and ceremonial start and finish venue ahead of two days of desert competition in Al Qudra
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, the 2026 Dubai International Baja will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the event in its current Baja format, continuing a motorsport tradition dating back to the inaugural Dubai Rally way back in 1970.
Leading international cross-country rally drivers and riders will gather in Dubai from November 5 to 8 to bring the 2026 FIA World Baja Cup and FIA Middle East Baja Cup seasons to a spectacular conclusion, while the event also hosts the penultimate round of the FIM Bajas World Cup and the final round of the FIM Asia Baja Continental Championship.
Organised by the Emirates Motorsports Organisation (EMSO), the event will again be based at Dubai Festival City, with the ceremonial start and finish at Festival Bay on November 6 and 8 which will precede two demanding desert stages in Al Qudra on Saturday and Sunday, providing a fitting conclusion to the FIA World Baja Cup and FIA Middle East Baja Cup campaigns.
The event will bring together competitors in the FIA Ultimate, Challenger, SSV and Stock categories, alongside motorcycle and quad riders competing for FIM honours. The FIA Middle East Baja Cup finale adds further significance for competitors from the UAE and wider Middle East, while the FIM competitions continue their respective championship campaigns.
H.E. Khalfan Juma Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council was pleased to be a part of such an exciting event. “Dubai has a firm and trusted reputation for hosting some of the top world-class events while also attracting a truly global audience. The Dubai International Baja has a pedigree, and this is just one of the 80 international sporting events this season that will shine the limelight on Dubai while reinforcing our position as a destination for top-level motorsport,” he said.
“We at the Dubai Sports Council are committed to supporting events that attract international participation, engage the local community and contribute to Dubai’s growing sporting culture, in keeping with the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033. We further look forward to another successful edition that delivers memorable competition and showcases the energy and ambition of Dubai,” H.E. Belhoul stated.
“What makes this event particularly special is the contrast between the excitement of racing in the desert and the opportunity for the public to experience the sport at close quarters within city limits. With the ceremonial start and finish at Dubai Festival City, the Baja brings international competition into locations that are familiar and accessible to residents and visitors,” H.E. Belhoul added.
The Dubai International Baja benefits from the close cooperation and support of the Dubai Government and its key entities, including Dubai Police, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Municipality, alongside the event’s Official Automotive Partner, Al-Futtaim Toyota.
H.E. Khalid Ben Sulayem, President of the Emirates Motorsports Organisation, said:
“As we celebrate ten years of the Baja format, it is a good time to reflect on the change that the new format brought to the event and new impetus that was created in 2016.
“Our ambition remains that we will continue to raise the sporting standard of the event and building on the enormous enthusiasm for cross-country rallying in the region.
“Dubai International Baja has developed a character and identity of its own over the past decade, building on a motorsport heritage that stretches back to 1970.
“This year’s edition carries particular significance as we bring the FIA World Baja Cup and FIA Middle East Baja Cup seasons to a close, while welcoming the leading motorcycle and quad competitors from the FIM Bajas World Cup. The Al Qudra stages will provide a demanding test of speed, endurance and navigation, where even the smallest mistake can make a significant difference to the result.
“One of our priorities at EMSO is to create opportunities for competitors from the UAE and the wider region to measure themselves against the best in the world. Events such as Dubai International Baja play an important role in developing that talent and strengthening the foundations of motorsport in the Emirates.”
Since adopting the Baja format in 2016, the event has attracted leading international competitors while providing a platform for emerging talent from the UAE and wider Middle East.
Last year, UAE’s Mohammed Al-Balooshi was feted in front of the home fans for his fourth FIM Bajas World Cup title success while Argentina’s Juan Cruz Yacopini and Spanish co-driver Dani Oliveras claimed victory in the FIA car competition aboard a Toyota Hilux, and the UAE’s Abdulaziz Ahli won the quad category.
Administrative checks and scrutineering begin on Thursday November 5th, ahead of Friday’s Prologue and ceremonial start. The final competitive stage and finish celebrations take place on Sunday November 8th.
Further details of leading competitors, championship contenders and spectator opportunities will be announced in the coming weeks.
