FIA Extreme H World Cup Nominated for Sporting Event of the Year at Saudi Event Show Awards
London, UK, August 20, 2026: The inaugural 2025 FIA Extreme H World Cup has been shortlisted for Sporting Event of the Year at the prestigious Saudi Event Show Awards. The nomination recognises leading Saudi events company STAMiNA, and their role in delivering the world's first hydrogen-powered motorsport event.
Hosted by Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia, the historic race week marked a world-first in motorsport, which the entire eight-car grid of vehicles was powered by hydrogen. The eight international teams consisting of 16 world-class drivers competed across three days of thrilling off-road racing, with the inaugural winners Jameel Motorsport, being crowned on the penultimate day.
The event’s planning and delivery involved close collaboration between Qiddiya City, Saudi Motorsport Company, Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation and the FIA. The event’s execution and delivery was enabled by STAMiNA, which transformed the desert location into a fully operational international sporting venue. The project encompassed the construction of race infrastructure and track, broadcast facilities, team paddock and premium hospitality, delivering a world-class event that introduced hydrogen racing to a global audience.
The event also represented a unique milestone in the evolution of sustainable motorsport, with the final race of the all-electric Extreme E championship immediately preceding the inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup across consecutive weeks. Seamlessly transitioning from electric to hydrogen-powered competition required exceptional planning, engineering and operational expertise, demonstrating how innovation and collaboration can redefine the future of international sport.
Beyond delivering a world-first sporting spectacle, the event positioned Saudi Arabia at the forefront of next-generation motorsport innovation, showcasing the Kingdom's ambition to become a global destination for pioneering sporting events and sustainable mobility technologies.
The Sporting Event of the Year category features strong competition across international motorsport, including STAMiNA's delivery of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Jeddah E-Prix, alongside Saudi Motorsport Company's delivery of both the Rally Dakar and the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) Rally Saudi Arabia.
Ali Russell, Managing Director of Extreme H, said: "We're incredibly proud to see the inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup recognised alongside some of the world's most prestigious motorsport events.
"Together with STAMiNA, we demonstrated that world-class motorsport can continue to push the boundaries of innovation while creating a platform to showcase the technologies that will shape the future of mobility. This nomination is a testament to everyone involved in making history in Qiddiya City."
Samer Issa El Khoury, Managing Director of STAMiNA, added: “The FIA Extreme H World Cup is a genuine world first and a bold vision for the future of sustainable motorsport.
“We are proud that Extreme H and Qiddiya City trusted STAMiNA to help bring that vision to life at Qiddiya City, building the track, the venue and the hospitality that turned a remote stretch of desert into an international sporting stage. Being part of this milestone is a proud moment for everyone involved, and a testament to Extreme H’s ambition and to what Saudi talent can now deliver on the world stage.”
The Saudi Event Show Awards celebrate excellence across the Kingdom's rapidly growing events industry, recognising organisations that deliver outstanding experiences, innovation and operational excellence. Winners across 29 award categories will be announced during the awards ceremony on 10 September 2026.