Dubai Baja: Baja Cups finale, Barreto targets the title

The Dubai International Baja, 5 to 8 November 2026, will close the season for the FIA World Baja Cup and Middle East Baja Cup. For its 10th edition, run by the Emirates Motorsports Organisation from Dubai Festival City, the event gathers 35 cars: 7 in Ultimate, 9 in Challenger, 14 in SSV and 5 in Stock. Eleven crews are chasing World Baja Cup points and fifteen Middle East Baja Cup points.

Ultimate: Barreto in a strong position

Second in Qatar with 80 points, Portugal's Francisco Barreto and navigator Paulo Fiúza (Toyota Hilux IMT Evo) arrive in Dubai as favourites for the Ultimate and overall titles. According to the FIA, only Saood Variawa can still stop him winning the category. In the overall drivers' standings, Variawa and Dutchman Mitchel van den Brink remain in contention. Among the navigators, Fiúza and Bart van Heun are fighting for the title.

Challenger and SSV: one title close, the other open

Van den Brink (Can-Am Maverick R) needs only a few points in the UAE to be crowned Challenger champion; Van Heun is already assured of the navigators' title. His closest rival, Oman's Hamed Al-Wahaibi, is aiming for second place.

In SSV the fight is more open. Argentina's Fernando Alvarez and France's Xavier Panseri (Can-Am, South Racing) took the lead after their win in Qatar. Junior champion Hedda Hosås of Norway leads Emirati Mansour Al-Helai by 3 points and unofficially trails Alvarez by 18. In Stock, Majed Al-Thunayyan and Omar Al-Lahim are already champions.

Middle East Baja Cup

Nasser Al-Attiyah, already crowned with Max Delfino (Optimus MD Rallye), is aiming for a clean sweep of wins in the regional series. Yasir Seaidan needs to finish to secure the Challenger title.

Route

A 4.80 km prologue opens the event, followed by a ceremonial start at Dubai Festival City. Crews then tackle the Al-Qudra dunes on a 177.24 km stage on 7 November, then a second stage of 179.56 km at Al-Faqa'a on 8 November. In total the route is 701.10 km, of which 361.60 km is timed, subject to final checks.

The editorial team