RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi motorsport figure Dania Akeel has set her sights on securing a podium finish at the Dakar Rally 2026, building on her recent victory at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Her trajectory highlights the rapid expansion of women’s participation in international motorsport following the historic lifted ban on female drivers in Saudi Arabia.
Akeel made history as the first Saudi woman to earn an international cross-country rally license from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). She subsequently became the first Arab woman to win an FIA World Cup title by securing the T3 category at the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas.
Her recent triumph in Abu Dhabi has further bolstered her competitive standing in the rally raid discipline. Competing against international field entries in grueling desert conditions, Akeel demonstrated the technical precision and pace necessary to challenge the global rally elite, establishing her as a serious contender for top honors at the upcoming Dakar Rally.
Beyond her athletic pursuits, Akeel holds a master’s degree in business administration and serves as a prominent cultural figure within the Kingdom’s evolving sports landscape. Her progression from domestic driving rights to global motorsport accolades reflects the broader social and athletic transformations occurring under Saudi Vision 2030, inspiring a new generation of regional athletes to enter competitive motorsports.