- After two years of evolution, the 34th edition of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will put the focus on transformation, integrating the innovations tested and adding two new destinations to a route that has been revamped by more than 50%.
- For the first time since its move to Abu Dhabi in 2009, the start will not take place in the capital, but in Al Ain, the cradle of the world nomadic culture, which is located in the eastern reaches of the country, on the border with Oman, and will make its first appearance in the race.
- Mezeer'ah, in Al Dhafra region, which made its own debut in 2024, will host the central bivouac of the rally before the traditional finish on the shores of the Arabian Gulf in the heart of the capital. It is the gateway to the Rub' al Khali —the world’s largest dunes desert.
- In a sign of the increasing emphasis on an itinerant concept, the eastern Al Qua’a region will set the scene for a marathon stage involving the entire field. Never before have FIA entrants tackled such a challenge in this race.
- Entries are set to close on 7 February, with the entry list published on 13 February. Scrutineering and the race will take place from 21 to 27 February.
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Discovering the oldest camps in the world The 34th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC) is set to be a milestone in the history of the pioneer rally-raid event in the Middle East. In 2009, the race founded eighteen years earlier by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, now FIA President, moved to Abu Dhabi and was rebranded from UAE Desert Challenge to Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. It adopted the format of 5 days of racing plus a super special, the standard for W2RC rounds today. Standing as the second round of the W2RC calendar since its launch in 2022, the ADDC will start in the millennia-old city of Al Ain for the first time in its history. Located 150 km east of the capital, which until now had been the gathering point, the second-largest city in Abu Dhabi emirate, whose name translates to "The Spring", is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built on the vestiges of prehistoric cultures dating back 8,000 years, this garden city with six oases and 1,200 hectares of palm groves is considered one of the oldest settlements in the world. It is in the heart of the region's nomadic culture that the EMSO (Emirates Motorsports Organization) has chosen to invite the global rally-raid caravan for this edition, which will transport competitors and fans alike. After exploring new stage cities and their regions, such as Al Dhannah in 2023 and Mezeer'ah last year, this new foray into the east will further shape the evolving identity of the rally. From the depths of prehistory to the heights of skyscrapers Breaking away from the traditional loop format, the administrative and technical scrutineering will take place in Al Ain. FIA and FIM technicians will inspect the latest rally-raid race machines on Friday, 21 February. The prologue will take place on the outskirts of Al Ain on Saturday, 22 February. The inaugural stage, running from Al Ain to Mezeer’ah, will be held on a brand-new course leading to the bivouac that made its debut last year near the Liwa Oasis, the true gateway to the Rub' al Khali. Stages 2, 3, and 4 —all loops— will showcase a selection of the specials introduced last season, including the tallest dunes of the Rub' al Khali, rising to 300 metres in height, interspersed with vast expanses of dry salt flats, the famous sebkhas. Stages 3 and 4 will form a large loop, including a marathon bivouac for all competitors, both FIM and FIA, in the Al Qua’a Region, in the southeast of the country, along the border with Oman. It will be a first for the cars in this race! The camp will be set up at the foot of a star-shaped red sand dunes whose technical climbs are expected in the heart of these stages leading back to Mezaira'a. Stage 5 will head north, with the finish line set in the vibrant city of Abu Dhabi, bringing this edition's journey through time to its conclusion. Recent editions of the ADDC have shaken up the championship ranking and, with the new format, the next one should give it a bigger shake than ever before. |
