2025 a standout year for FIA championship: Ben Sulayem
The Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place at Yas Marina Circuit from December 4-6 next year in a championship, which will see the next generation of F1 cars running on 100% sustainable fuels.
This was confirmed at the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Macau on Tuesday, which was chaired by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem as the federation's global community gathered for the FIA's annual conference.
The 2026 FI World Championship again includes three other Middle East rounds, in Bahrain on April 10-12, Saudi Arabia from April 17-19 and Qatar from November 27-29.
Saudi again stages back-to-back Jeddah races in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship calendar on February 13-14, while the Middle East also has four rounds in the 2026 F2 Championship coinciding with the F1 races in Bahrain, Saudi, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem speaks during the meeting.
Once again, the Dakar Rally in Saudi commences next year's FIA World Rally-Raid Championship from January 3-17, with the Rally du Maroc taking place from September 28 to October 3 and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge on November 22-27. Bahrain represents the Middle East in the ten-round F3 calendar.
Ben Sulayem told World Motor Sport Council members: '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. 'This year is a powerful opportunity for us to innovate and grow. New agreements across our championships are unlocking fresh potential, we are enhancing the level of competition and expanding our global reach. Each race across our championships shows the passion and dedication of our community.'
The World Council approved one of the final pieces of the compelling puzzle that is coming together to mark the start of a brand-new era for the FIA World Rally Championship from 2027.
The WRC27 rule set has been undergoing its final refinements and updates over the past six months, and confirmation in Macau of the reference volumes for bodywork cements the commitment set out by the FIA to put flexibility at the core of these regulations.
To achieve this, the rules define a zone in which all of the bodywork panels must be located, but within this volume, manufacturers and constructors have the freedom to scale and integrate almost any design.
This means that, without effecting performance, cars ranging from saloons to hatchbacks, cross-overs and completely bespoke designs could be entered over the ten-year regulation cycle through to 2037.
Meanwhile, a new street circuit in Madrid will make its debut on the Formula 1 schedule in September of next year, replacing the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
What's On
3 days ago
- What's On
Top places to watch the Formula 1 races in Dubai
If you're a Formula 1 fan here in Dubai, you can watch the races at home via F1TV or beIN SPORTS, but if you want to join other fans and enjoy a fun environment, you've got to head to a sports bar or a cars cafe. Formula 1's fan base has picked up pace in the past few years, especially after the launch of Netflix's Drive to Survive and more recently this year after the release of F1 The Movie starring Brad Pitt. But it doesn't matter if you're a longtime fan who has watched the greats like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher or are a recent fan witnessing McLaren's domination on the track; you're sure to come together with other fans for a fab time. amgkaffeehausdxb This cafe is named after the Mercedes-Benz founders (Aufrecht, Melcher, and Großaspach) and is the place in Dubai to support King George (George Russell) and Little Kimi Antonelli battle for points for Team Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS. Here, you can unwind with your favorite brew, dine on tasty treats and watch F1 cars going round (and round) the circuit. And yes, the cafe even sells AMG merch. Location: City Walk on Happiness Street and Dubai Design District in the Mercedes-Benz Brand Center, Operating hours: open daily from 8am. @amgkaffeehausdxb This restaurant in DIFC and JLT is popular for its wings in a variety of sauces, and fans of F1 can book themselves in for a double treat when the races are on. Screens across the venue show the live racing action and other sports. Make a reservation in advance, and do let the team know you're there to watch the F1 races. If you're heading here on Sunday to see who crosses the final line to lift the trophy, you can enjoy their Slider Sunday deal, which will see you enjoying a beef or chicken slider for just Dhs9. It's available all day. Head here to check out their other pocket-friendly deals. Location: Buffalo Wild Wings in DIFC and JLT Contact: DIFC: (04) 359 6900, JLT: (04) 321 6112 @buffalodubai Ernst Biergarten Ernst Biergarten Located in the oh-so-cool 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central, Ernst Biergarten offers a traditional beer garden setting for fans to watch the race. The zooming action is displayed on TV screens across the venue, so you don't miss any overtakes. Pair the roaring action with a cold beer or hearty Bavarian bites from German pretzels to schweineschnitzel, pommes frites, and more. Make a reservation to block your favourite table in advance. Location: Ernst Biergarten, 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central, Trade Centre Contact: (04) 210 2511 @ernstdubai Flat12 Café Enjoy the race out on the circuit surrounded by some cool cars. Flat12 Cafe is an industrially chic space, which combines a bistro, boutique, and gallery under one roof, and they show the F1 races, making it a great pitstop to watch the race. The cafe rotates the classic models on display, and it even offers up a comfy workspace if you want a change of scene. On the menu, you can find pizzas, burgers, truffle fries, burrata flatbread, and more. Pair it with one of their specialty coffees. Location: Port Rashid Contact: (0)4 228 7123 @flat.12 *Your ultimate guide to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025* garden on 8 garden on 8 Formula 1 fans are currently missing the action on the grid, but when it returns on August 29, we are in for the ride of a lifetime as the drivers line up on the grid for the Heineken Dutch Grand Prix. While not all of us can join the Orange Army and support Max Verstappen at the Zandvoort track, we can wear the brightest orange shirt we own and head on over to garden on 8 in Media One Hotel to watch the live action. From August 29 to 31, garden on 8 is getting a Formula 1 makeover, turning into a fanzone with a race simulator, race flags, themed drinks and bites, and even a special collab with Club NL. On Saturday, August 30, it turns into a complete F1 Garden Party from 1pm to 4pm, plus an after-party with happy hour specials where you watch the qualifying action and see who takes pole position for race day. Enjoy the rush of adrenaline with all-inclusive packages starting from Dhs199. There's a sepcial menu crafted for the experience, too. Book your table here. Location: garden on 8, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City Dates: August 29 to 31 Offer: Dhs199 soft, Dhs299 house and Dhs399 premium; happy hour from 4pm Contact: (052) 144 7438 @gardenon8dxb ICON Bar & Lounge If all you want is your mates, top sporting action, and a no-frills atmosphere, Icon Bar should shoot to the top of your list. This international sports bar brags 26 screens and non-stop live sports, which you can pair with its all-day, every-day happy hour with prices from Dhs39. Over the race weekend, you can also enjoy Amstel Beer for just Dhs29. It attracts plenty of fans, so for big games make sure you book your spot. Location: ICON Bar & Lounge, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City Contact: (04) 04 366 9111 @iconbar_dubai Offside Sports Bar Offside Race into Offside at JA Ocean View Hotel for all the live F1 action. Multiple screens across the venue show the race and other live games, and over the cooler season, the action also extends outdoors. Want to show off your skills behind the wheel? Offside also has a simulator where you can snap up bragging rights. Besides this, there are plenty of classic bites on the menu, from wings to pizzas, and some pretty cool drink deals. Added bonus? It's pet-friendly, so your pet can also enjoy the racing action… or most likely do zoomies around your table. Location: JA Ocean View Hotel, Jumeirah Beach Residence Contact: (04) 814 5590 @offsidedxb The Car Cafe If you want to watch the race next to an actual circuit, head to the CARS Cafe, located next to the Dubai Autodrome. You won't be able to take your eyes off the screen when the race is on, but do spend some time pre- or post-race to feast your eyes on real cars and bikes on display. Besides sipping on coffee and tucking into a meal, you can go shopping for some cool merch. It's a perfect spot for petrolheads, racing enthusiasts, and travel lovers to come together. Location: The CARS Cafe, Dubai Autodrome Contact: (0)54 400 1803 @thecarscafe Images: Supplied and Instagram
Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Saudi video game market witnesses robust growth with import of over 2.4mln consoles in 2 years
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's video game sector has seen remarkable growth over the past two years, with imports of video game consoles reaching over 2.4 million units in 2024 and 2025, according to data from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority. In 2024, over 1.7 million units were imported, while 684,489 units have been imported so far in 2025. The authority indicated that the top five countries from where imports occurred in 2024 were: China, followed by Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. In 2025, China also topped the list of suppliers, followed by the United States, Japan, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. The Saudi Internet Report 2024 from the Communications, Space and Technology Commission highlighted significant improvements in the digital infrastructure, including an 88 percent improvement in response time for popular video games. The report also detailed usage trends, showing that smart devices are the most used platform with 24.2 percent of users, followed closely by PlayStation with 23.8 percent. The report showed that the percentage of smart device use among females reached 28.5 percent compared to 21 percent among males, while PlayStation devices achieved a percentage of 30.2 among males compared to 15.1 percent among females.. The report indicated that PlayStation topped the list of games used by the 10-19 age group, with 54.8 percent of the users, while smart devices topped the list for the remaining age groups: 20-29 age group with 30.8 percent; followed by the 30-39 age group with 23.8 percent; the 40-49 age group with 15.3 percent; 8.7 percent for the 50-59 age group, and 5 percent for the 60-74 age group. The report also revealed the most downloaded electronic games on smart devices in the Kingdom, with Whiteout Survival coming in first place, followed by Roblox in second place, Subway Surfers in third place, PUBG Mobile in fourth place, and Garena Free Fire in fifth place. These indicators confirm that the Kingdom has become a leading regional and international destination for hosting major e-Sports events, supported by its technical infrastructure and ongoing investments in the sector, as part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy and promote digital industries. The Esports World Cup, which is being held in Riyadh from July 7 to August 24, reinforces the Kingdom's growing role as a global gaming hub, the report pointed out. The event features over 2,000 players from more than 100 countries competing for prizes exceeding $70 million, solidifying Saudi Arabia's position in the global gaming and e-sports scene.
Arabian Business
4 days ago
- Arabian Business
Saudi gaming market surges with 2.4m consoles imported amid esports boom
Saudi Arabia's video game industry is expanding rapidly, with imports of gaming consoles surpassing 2.4m units in 2024 and 2025, according to the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority. In 2024 alone, more than 1.7m consoles were brought into the Kingdom, while 684,489 units have been imported so far in 2025. The top suppliers were China, Japan, and the United States. Saudi games console boom The Saudi Internet Report 2024, released by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, highlighted an 88 per cent improvement in response time for popular online games, alongside strong digital infrastructure growth. Smart devices remain the most widely used gaming platform (24.2 per cent of users), closely followed by PlayStation (23.8 per cent). PlayStation dominates among players aged 10–19, while older demographics prefer mobile gaming. Whiteout Survival, Roblox, and Subway Surfers ranked as the most downloaded mobile games. The Kingdom's gaming ambitions are further showcased by the Esports World Cup, taking place in Riyadh until August 24. The event features more than 2,000 players from more than 100 countries, competing for prizes worth more than $70m, cementing Saudi Arabia's position as a global hub for gaming and esports.
