Rally Jameel: Saudi Arabia’s First-Ever Women-Only Motorsport Event Kicks Off
The event includes an array of teams from the region and worldwide and takes place until March 19…
And the race is on! Rally Jameel, KSA’s first women-only motorsport event, has kicked off as 34 female drivers make their way from Hail in north-western Saudi Arabia to Al-Qassim city, before finishing in Riyadh. Spanning the course of three days, teams from all over the world — including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Egypt, Europe and the USA — have come to the Kingdom to participate.
The race is purely based around navigational skills, rather than being a speed test, and participating teams include a mix of beginners to experienced veterans — a huge moment in Saudi Arabian history.
Inaugurated by His Royal Highness, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, Prince of Hail, the opening ceremony took place on March 16 and was held in the historic Al-Qashla Palace in Hail, followed by a press conference introducing all team members.
“The city of Hail is an iconic site that carries history, culture and adventure, and is also known for hosting international events celebrating our area’s rich culture,” His Royal Highness, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, Prince of Hail says. “We host all kinds of sports in this region, especially extreme sports, and are always passionate in nurturing our local talent. This is especially true of the daughters of the Kingdom, who are about to take part in this significant race.”
Nujood Zahid (from the Saudi Arabian Urban Bedouin team) was the first participant to sign up and shares insight to her journey.
“After buying a sports car I decided I wanted to become a better driver, and I soon discovered there are some excellent drivers in the Kingdom, so I’ve since learned a lot,” she says. “When I first heard about Rally Jameel I thought this is really of interest to me. And despite it being off-road, which I have never done before, the idea of racing against other women that share the same passion was an incredible opportunity. I’m very excited to be part of it.”
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