The 2026 Dubai International Baja will take place from November 5 to 8, marking ten years since the event adopted its current Baja format. It builds on a motorsport tradition dating back to the inaugural Dubai Rally in 1979.
Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the event will host the final rounds of the 2026 FIA World Baja Cup and FIA Middle East Baja Cup. It will also stage 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. Festival Bay will host the ceremonial start on November 6 and the finish celebrations on November 8. Competitors will tackle two desert stages in Al Qudra on Saturday and Sunday. Administrative checks and scrutineering begin on November 5.
Categories include FIA Ultimate, Challenger, SSV and Stock, alongside motorcycle and quad riders competing for FIM honours.
Khalfan Juma Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, said the Baja is one of 80 international sporting events taking place this season. He said hosting the start and finish at a familiar location lets the public experience the sport up close.
Khalid Ben Sulayem, President of EMSO, said the anniversary is a chance to reflect on the changes introduced in 2016 and the growth of cross-country rallying in the region. He added that such events help develop local and regional talent.
In 2025, the UAE’s Mohammed Al-Balooshi won his fourth FIM Bajas World Cup title, while Juan Cruz Yacopini and Dani Oliveras took the FIA car category in a Toyota Hilux. The UAE’s Abdulaziz Ahli won the quad category.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
