Saudi Arabia Wins Formula E's First-Ever 'Best Host Country' Award

A Historic First for Saudi Motorsport

Saudi Arabia has claimed a new milestone in its rapidly expanding sports portfolio, becoming the inaugural winner of Formula E's "Best Host Country" award  a brand-new accolade introduced this year to recognize the destination that best exemplifies excellence in event delivery, infrastructure and long-term partnership within the all-electric racing championship.

The award was presented for the first time in Formula E's history during the 2025/26 Season End of Season Awards ceremony held in London. Saudi Arabia's win reflects nearly eight years of continuous involvement in the championship, dating back to when the Kingdom became the first Middle Eastern nation to host a Formula E race in 2018.

From Diriyah's Historic Walls to Jeddah's Corniche

Saudi Arabia's relationship with Formula E began at the Diriyah E-Prix, staged within the ancient mudbrick walls of the UNESCO World Heritage site on the outskirts of Riyadh — a striking juxtaposition of centuries-old heritage architecture and cutting-edge electric racing technology that quickly became one of the championship's most visually distinctive venues. The race later expanded to include events in Jeddah, broadening the Kingdom's footprint within the series and giving fans across two major Saudi cities direct access to top-tier international motorsport.

Mansour Almokbel, acting chief executive of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and head of the Saudi Motorsport Company, said the recognition reflected years of collective effort. "Receiving the Formula E 'Best Hosting Country' Award is the result of the collective efforts of everyone who has contributed to hosting and delivering the championship's races in the Kingdom, from its beginnings in Diriyah through to Jeddah," he said following the announcement.

Part of a Broader Sports Investment Strategy

The award adds to a growing list of international sporting accolades and hosting rights secured by Saudi Arabia in recent years, as the Kingdom continues to position sport as a central pillar of its Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. Beyond Formula E, Saudi Arabia has hosted the Dakar Rally since 2020, established a Formula 1 street race in Jeddah, and built a growing calendar of golf, boxing, tennis and equestrian events, alongside ambitions to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Formula E in particular carries symbolic weight for the Kingdom's broader ambitions, given its focus on electric vehicle technology and sustainability — themes that align closely with Saudi Arabia's stated goals around renewable energy investment and economic diversification away from hydrocarbons. Officials have previously described the series as a natural fit for a country simultaneously investing tens of billions of dollars in renewable energy capacity while working to reduce its long-term reliance on oil revenue.

Recognition Rooted in Infrastructure and Delivery

According to Formula E, the new "Best Host Country" category was specifically designed to recognize destinations that set the global benchmark for event delivery, infrastructure quality and long-term partnership with the championship — criteria that go well beyond simply staging a successful race weekend. The award instead reflects the sustained investment a host nation makes in circuit infrastructure, logistics, hospitality and fan experience across multiple seasons.

Saudi Arabia's continuous participation since the championship's debut in the Kingdom, spanning both the historic Diriyah circuit and the modern Jeddah venue, appears to have been central to the judging criteria, with organizers pointing to the advanced standards the Kingdom has established over nearly a decade of hosting.

What It Means for Saudi Sports Tourism

For a Kingdom that has made international sports hosting a centerpiece of its tourism and soft-power strategy, the award carries significance beyond the racetrack. Formula E events have historically drawn large domestic and international crowds to Diriyah and Jeddah, with race weekends often paired with concerts, cultural exhibitions and family entertainment programming designed to showcase the host cities to a global television audience.

The recognition also arrives at a moment when Saudi Arabia is preparing to welcome an increasingly dense international sporting calendar, with new venues and events planned across several cities in the coming years as part of the broader giga-project ecosystem, including developments at Diriyah, Qiddiya and NEOM.

As Formula E's newest generation of electric race cars continues to push the boundaries of performance and sustainability, Saudi Arabia's inaugural "Best Host Country" title stands as a marker of how far the Kingdom's motorsport ambitions have come since that first night race behind Diriyah's ancient walls in 2018 — and a signal of the standard organizers now expect it to maintain as the championship's Middle East showcase continues to grow.

Next Article