Jordan to host FIA World, Middle East Baja Cups

Jordan Motorsport has confirmed that the Jordan Baja will host the second rounds of the FIA World and Middle East Baja Cups and the FIM Bajas World Cup and FIM Asia Bajas Cup on February 12-14th, 2026.

The Aqaba-based event slots into the calendars two months earlier than 2025 and is one of the last sporting events to run in the region before the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan. It follows swiftly on the heels of the Saudi Baja (January 29-31), which hosts the opening round of the respective championships.

Based at the Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla Resort for a second time in three years, the three-day off-road event crosses some of the most spectacular terrain on the planet with competitors set to face 472.19 competitive kilometres (subject to FIA approval) and two punishing days of action through southern Jordan’s stunning Wadi Rum desert region.

An Aseza Prologue stage of 15.50km will kickstart the weekend’s action, 58km from Aqaba, on Thursday, February 12 and this paves the way for the first Humaymeh selective section of 245.02km through the Wadi Rum desert on Friday, February 13.

Day three (Saturday, February 14) will offers crews a Valentine’s Day to remember and sees them tackling a second shorter desert stage of 211.67km before the podium, prize giving and post-event press conference are held at the Ayla Resort in late afternoon.

In a total route of 821.69km, Jordan Motorsport is planning 472.19 kilometres against the clock with Khaled Zakaria acting as Clerk of the Course of the FIA event in tandem with George Khoury working in a similar role with the FIM event.

Zaid Balqez, Chairman of the Organising Committee, said: “The date has moved backwards in the calendar for the last two years and the February date may well see much cooler temperatures in the Aqaba and Wadi Rum areas.

“We are delighted to be hosting an integral round of both the FIA and FIM Baja championships and to also see the fledgling FIM Asia Bajas Cup continuing to thrive. The Jordan Baja throws up its own unique challenges in terms of navigation and demanding and varied terrain and I am sure that visiting competitors will enjoy the stunning vistas in this region of southern Jordan.”

The Jordan Baja ran for the first time in 2018 as a candidate for the 2019 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas. That inaugural event was won by Essa Al-Dossari on four wheels, while local rider Ata Al-Hmoud topped the motorcycle standings. Since then, it has run on five occasions as an FIA event and seen five different winners - Jakub Przygonski, Yasir Seaidan, Saleh Al-Saif, Khalid Al-Jafla and defending champion Juan Cruz Yacopini.

Emirati Mohammed Al Balooshi has been the dominant force on two wheels and has claimed five victories since 2019 (the 2020 and 2023 editions were cancelled).

In the quads, Saudi riders Faisal Al-Suwayh, Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi, Abdulaziz Al-Shayban and Hani Al-Noumesi have earned a win apiece.

Qatar’s Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Saudi Arabia’s Hamza Bakhashab and Qatari Abdullah Al-Rabban won last year’s Challenger, SSV and Stock categories.