Abu Dhabi: The UAE's prominence on the global motorsport stage has been underlined for another year with confirmation of the FIA's major world championship calendars for 2026. The Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is scheduled at Yas Marina Circuit from 4th to 6th December, featuring the next generation of F1 cars running on 100 percent sustainable fuels.
According to Emirates News Agency, this announcement was made at the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Macau, chaired by FIA President Mohammed ben Sulayem, where the Federation's global community gathered for the annual conference. The 2026 FIA World Championship also includes three other Middle East rounds, taking place in Bahrain from 10th to 12th April, Saudi Arabia from 17th to 19th April, and Qatar from 27th to 29th November.
Saudi Arabia will host back-to-back Jeddah races in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship calendar on 13th to 14th February. The Middle East will also have four rounds in the 2026 F2 Championship coinciding with the F1 races in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. The Dakar Rally in Saudi commences the next year's FIA World Rally-Raid Championship from 3rd to 17th January, with the Rally du Maroc scheduled from 28th September to 3rd October, and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge set for 22nd to 27th November. Bahrain represents the Middle East in the ten-round F3 calendar.
FIA President Ben Sulayem expressed that 2025 is a significant year for all championships with technological advancements, emerging talent, and ongoing competitions on the track and across stages each week. The WRC27 ruleset has been undergoing final refinements and updates, and confirmation in Macau of the reference volumes for bodywork underscores the FIA's commitment to flexibility in these regulations.
The rules define a zone where all bodywork panels must be located, allowing manufacturers and constructors the freedom to design within this volume. This enables a range of car designs, from saloons to hatchbacks, cross-overs, and bespoke models, to be entered over the ten-year regulation cycle through to 2037.