Saudi Arabia Rally Cancelled from World Championship Amid Middle East Unrest

Saudi Arabia has been removed from the 2026 World Rally Championship calendar due to ongoing unrest in the Middle East, the sport's governing body announced. The final round of the championship was scheduled to take place in the country.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated that extensive efforts were made with partners to ensure the event could proceed as planned. "These are never easy decisions, particularly after the significant work undertaken by everyone involved in preparing for the event," Ben Sulayem said in a statement. "While the WRC element of the event will not take place this year, our confidence in the organisers and in the long-term future of the rally remains unchanged."

The decision comes amid numerous ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, including the Israel-Gaza war and Saudi Arabia's engagement with Houthi rebels in Yemen. Other sporting events have also recently avoided the region. Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled in April. The Bahrain Grand Prix has since been relocated, while races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are still scheduled to proceed later in the season.

In February, tennis players, staff, and media were stranded in Dubai after missile strikes on the United Arab Emirates. An ATP Challenger event in the country was disrupted by drone strikes in March. Governing bodies for tennis are reportedly considering alternative host locations for events in the region for the 2027 season. English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick has also expressed reservations about traveling to Dubai for his DP World Tour Championship title defense in November.

Great Britain's Elfyn Evans currently leads the WRC standings heading into the final round, with Finland's Sami Pajari trailing. Evans, who has finished runner-up in the championship five times, is looking to become the third British winner of the title, joining Colin McRae and Richard Burns.