The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has announced the return of the FIA MENA Esports Championship, with two new editions set to take place in 2026 and 2027, building on the success of the inaugural FIA-sanctioned championship held in 2025. 

Once again contested on Gran Turismo 7, the championship will bring together the region’s leading sim racers through a structured qualification pathway delivered in collaboration with FIA Member Clubs across the Middle East and North Africa. 

The FIA MENA Esports Championship continues to provide competitors with the opportunity to compete under the FIA’s internationally recognised sporting framework, while creating an accessible pathway into motor sport for a new generation of sim racers. 

The inaugural FIA-sanctioned edition established a strong foundation for the championship’s future growth, attracting 735 registered competitors from 20 countries across the MENA region. National qualifying events identified the region’s leading drivers before the competition reached its climax with the Final held in Amman, Jordan. 

The championship also demonstrated significant engagement beyond the competition itself, generating more than 133 million social media impressions, 111 million video views, 37 million engagements and attracting over two million viewers throughout the 2025 edition. 

Following a highly competitive final, Naif Al Faleh (Saudi Arabia) was crowned the inaugural FIA MENA Esports Champion, ahead of fellow Saudi driver Wesam Khalil, while Sami-Joe Abi Nakhle (Lebanon) completed the podium. 

The 2026 edition of the FIA MENA Esports Championship is now underway, with National Qualifiers taking place across participating MENA countries until mid-September. The strongest competitors from each country will then progress to the Regional Qualifiers on 18 September, where the top 24 drivers will secure their place in the FIA Final.  

The 2026 edition of the FIA MENA Esports Championship will conclude on 24 November, where competitors will battle for the regional FIA title and the opportunity to become the next FIA MENA Esports Champion. The event will also feature the Esports Global Rally Tour – MENA Shootout as a support event, giving the top two drivers from the MENA region the opportunity to qualify for the FIA Esports Global Rally Tour Grand Final, which will take place during the FIA Awards in Shanghai. 

Following the conclusion of the 2026 edition, the FIA MENA Esports Championship will return in 2027, continuing to provide a competitive platform for sim racers across the region. Further details regarding the 2027 edition, including the competition format, calendar and qualification process, will be announced in due course. 

H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said: “The return of the FIA MENA Esports Championship for both 2026 and 2027 reflects the FIA’s commitment to creating inclusive and accessible pathways into motorsport for the next generation. The success of the inaugural championship demonstrated the immense passion and potential that exists across the Middle East and North Africa, while highlighting the important role Esports plays in engaging new audiences with our sport.
“I would like to thank the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan for hosting the upcoming FIA MENA Esports Championship Final in Amman, and for its continued support of this important initiative. The commitment of our Member Clubs across the region is fundamental to the championship’s success and to the growth of Esports within the FIA ecosystem."

Niroshan Pereira, President of the FIA Esports Commission, said: "The success of the inaugural FIA MENA Esports Championship demonstrated the tremendous potential of Esports across the Middle East and North Africa. The participation levels, the quality of competition and the engagement from fans showed that there is a strong appetite for professionally governed Esports competition under the FIA framework. The announcement of editions in 2026 and 2027 represents an important step in building long-term sustainability for the Championship and creating further opportunities for competitors throughout the region. We look forward to continuing this journey with our FIA Member Clubs, partners and the talented drivers who make this Championship possible." 

Zaid Balqez, CEO of Jordan Motorsport, said : "We are delighted to welcome the FIA MENA Esports Championship back to Jordan for the 2026 and 2027 editions. Following the success of the inaugural FIA-sanctioned edition in Amman, we are proud to continue our collaboration with the FIA and to support the growth of Esports across the MENA region. Hosting the Championship once again underlines Jordan’s commitment to developing new opportunities for the next generation of competitors and to strengthening the region’s position on the international Esports stage." 

The FIA MENA Esports Championship forms part of the FIA’s wider Esports strategy, using sim racing to expand access to motor sport, engage new audiences and support the development of future talent.