Earlier this week, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia witnessed the inaugural event of Rally Jameel, its first-ever women-only motorsport event. This monumental event comes two months after the Kingdom saw two of its first female racers partaking in the Dakar Rally. Rally Jameel is currently supported by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, FIA Women in Motorsport, Her Highness Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud, Dr. Thuraya Obaid, and Eng. Aseel Al-Hamad.
The event took place at Al-Qashla Palace in Hail,and was attended by His Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Saad bin Abdulaziz. Explaining to aeworld why the city was chosen to host the rally, His Highness explained that Hail is an iconic site that carries history, culture, and adventure, and is also known for hosting international events celebrating the Kingdom's rich culture.
"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 [i.e., Rally Jameel]," His Highness stated.
A total of 34 teams partook in Rally Jameel, which ran from March 16 to 19. Each team consisted of two members armed with state-of-the-art navigation equipment and a digital road book. The racers took off-road tracks through the Kingdom's picturesque desert landscape, measuring a total of 1,000 km between Hail and Riyadh. Speed wasn’t crucial however, as each team relied on their off-road skills. Dania Akeel, one of the two female racers at the Dakar Rally, also participated in the event.
As stated, Rally Jameel comes two months after Kingdom successfully enlisted its first female drivers, but also as part of the nation's Vision 2030 goals, which seek to empower Saudi women across various fields. This also includes sporting events such as motorsports, following a royal decree by His Highness King Salman allowing women to take the wheels.
