Dubai International Baja 2025 sets record entry for thrilling finale
Competitors from 30 nations converge for UAE’s iconic off-road event
DUBAI – Dubai is set to host the ninth edition of the Dubai International Baja from 20-23 November 2025, featuring an unprecedented entry of 94 vehicles from more than 30 countries.
The event promises a spectacular conclusion to the FIA and FIM World Cup seasons, with titles still up for grabs across multiple categories. Among the UAE’s own 14 entrants are riders, drivers, and navigators eager to showcase their skills on home terrain.
World Cup leader Juan Cruz Yacopini and local motocross star Mohammed Al-Balooshi headline the car and bike entries respectively. The competitors will navigate the challenging Al Qudra desert dunes, before tackling the scenic tracks of Hatta, combining technical skill with endurance and strategy.
The event is known for welcoming both seasoned veterans and emerging talent taking their first steps into rally-raid competition. Fans can expect fierce competition, spectacular machinery, and a celebration of off-road racing that draws global attention to Dubai’s sporting landscape.
Motorcycle contenders
Among the motorcycle line-up, Dubai’s own Mohammed Al-Balooshi is aiming for a fourth FIM Bajas World Cup crown aboard his Yamaha YZF 450. Al-Balooshi, a two-time winner of his home event in 2018 and 2023, narrowly missed the title last year to Poland’s Konrad Dabrowski, who also claimed victory in the recent Qatar round (6–8 November 2025).
Other competitors in the motorcycle and quad categories are equally determined. Abdulaziz Ahli is aiming for a hat-trick on his Yamaha Raptor 700, having topped the quad standings at the 2023 and 2024 Dubai events. The fierce competition across bikes and quads ensures a thrilling contest, with seasoned champions clashing against ambitious newcomers.
How are the cars shaping up?
The car entry list reads like a who’s who of rally-raid talent. Argentine driver Juan Cruz Yacopini, a four-time winner of the 2025 FIA World Baja Cup, will co-drive with Dani Oliveras in their SVR-run Toyota Hilux. Yacopini arrives fresh from victory in Qatar, facing his closest rivals from that event in a head-to-head finale in Dubai.
Czech pairing Martin Prokop and Victor Chytka return in their Orlen Jipocar Ford Maverick, having finished just behind Yacopini in Qatar. Saudi competitor Dania Akeel, with French co-driver Sebastian Delaunay, will contest in an Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux, aiming to improve on ninth-place finishes in prior Dubai editions.
Two-time FIA World Baja Cup winners Mitchel Van Den Brink and Bart Van Heun from the Netherlands arrive in their South Racing BRP Maverick R, hoping to climb the rankings after an eighth-place finish last year. US stars Seth Quintero and Andrew Shorts, fresh from Dakar Rally stage wins, also join the fray in an Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux, looking to overturn last year’s 16th-place result in Dubai.
What’s new this year?
Dubai International Baja 2025 will feature the debut of the Defender rally-raid machines ahead of a full World Cup season in 2026. French off-road legend Stephane Peterhansel, a 14-time Dakar Rally winner, will team up with fellow Frenchman Michael Metge in one Defender, while Lithuanian Rokas Baciuska is paired with Spanish co-driver Oriol Vidal Montijano in the second privately-entered vehicle.
These new entries will be on full display across the Dubai Festival City Service Area, the Hatta Prologue, and the spectator viewing areas at Al Marmoom. The event effectively serves as a “factory dress rehearsal” for next season, offering fans an up-close view of cutting-edge rally technology in action.
How can fans experience the action?
Spectator access for the Dubai International Baja remains free across the Service Area, Hatta Prologue, and Al Marmoom viewing points. The event is widely recognised as one of the most accessible in the Baja World Cup, with fans encouraged to witness the action in person. The combination of free entry, elite competitors, and challenging terrain makes this edition the most anticipated yet.
Saeed Harib, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, emphasised the importance of the event, stating it “showcases the Emirate’s natural beauty and sporting excellence to audiences around the world, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading global sports destination.”
Khalid Ben Sulayem, President of the Emirates Motorsports Organisation (EMSO), added that the event continues to attract top talent due to the “challenging nature of the special stages and the unique atmosphere fostered by the proximity to the city.”
Who is behind the event?
The Dubai International Baja is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council. The Emirates Motorsport Organisation (EMSO) expertly organises the event in collaboration with key Dubai government entities, including Dubai Police, RTA, and Dubai Municipality.
Al-Futtaim Toyota serves as the official automotive partner, supporting the event’s mission to highlight Dubai’s off-road sporting excellence. The combined backing of the government and private sector ensures the event continues to be a world-class rally-raid destination, drawing competitors and fans from across the globe.