FIA MENA ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS WITH 2026 AND 2027 EDITIONS Building on a landmark inaugural FIA-sanctioned championship that attracted more than 735 competitors from 20 countries, the FIA MENA Esports Championship will return with two new editions in 2026 and 2027, continuing to strengthen Esports participation across the Middle East and North Africa. The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has announced the return of the FIA MENA Esports Championship, with two new editions set to take place in 2026 and 2027, building on the success of the inaugural FIA-sanctioned championship held in 2025. Once again contested on Gran Turismo 7, the championship will bring together the region’s leading sim racers through a structured qualification pathway delivered in collaboration with FIA Member Clubs across the Middle East and North Africa. The FIA MENA Esports Championship continues to provide competitors with the opportunity to compete under the FIA’s internationally recognised sporting framework, while creating an accessible pathway into motor sport for a new generation of sim racers. The inaugural FIA-sanctioned edition established a strong foundation for the championship’s future growth, attracting 735 registered competitors from 20 countries across the MENA region. National qualifying events identified the region’s leading drivers before the competition reached its climax with the Final held in Amman, Jordan. The championship also demonstrated significant engagement beyond the competition itself, generating more than 133 million social media impressions, 111 million video views, 37 million engagements and attracting over two million viewers throughout the 2025 edition. Following a highly competitive final, Naif Al Faleh (Saudi Arabia) was crowned the inaugural FIA MENA Esports Champion, ahead of fellow Saudi driver Wesam Khalil, while Sami-Joe Abi Nakhle (Lebanon) completed the podium. The 2026 edition of the FIA MENA Esports