Al Maha Island to host start and finish of Qatar International Rally

Al Maha Island

Al Maha Island will host the start and finish ceremonies of this weekend’s Qatar International Rally, round two of the 2023 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC). 

Al Maha Island Lusail is Qatar’s ultimate entertainment and culinary destination, featuring Lusail Winter Wonderland, Nammos Beach Club and award-winning restaurants.  

Located across Lusail Marina Promenade, Al Maha Island is easily accessible from the mainland by car, 30 minutes away from Hamad International Airport and just a five-minute walk from the Esplanade Station of the Lusail Tram, making it a perfect destination for business and leisure travellers alike. The island also offers a unique driving experience, Al Maha Drive, reserved for supercars and classic cars with exclusive benefits for its members. 

Opened in November 2022, the destination is set to play a vital role in Qatar’s tourism and hospitality sectors by attracting over 1.5 million visitors per year.

“We are proud and excited that the Qatar International Rally will start and finish from Al Maha Island, Qatar’s new, iconic and world-class tourist venue,” said Amro Al Hamad, Executive Director of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF). 

“It will provide the perfect backdrop for the start of the event and the finish celebrations on Saturday evening.”

Group CEO of Estithmar Holding, Henrik Christiansen said: “We are excited to host the start and finish ceremonies of Qatar International Rally, round two of the 2023 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC). Al Maha Island is the ultimate entertainment and leisure hotspot, transforming the tourism and hospitality in Qatar to a new level. At Estithmar Holding our mission is to add exceptional value to our customer and our world-class hospitality and entertainment projects will deliver and create a memorable experience for the residents and visitors of Qatar.”

The three-day gravel rally is being organised by the QMMF and will be fought out over 13 timed special stages and 209.69km competitive kilometres from Thursday evening through to Saturday afternoon.

While the rally headquarters, service park and pre-event administration and scrutineering checks will be carried out close to the QMMF offices at Lusail Sports Arena, rally officials have also confirmed that Al Maha Island will host the pre and post-event press conferences at the start and finish podiums on Thursday and Saturday evenings from 18.30hrs, respectively

Competitors from 13 nations will be permitted to carry out reconnaissance of the special stages, before attending scrutineering at Lusail on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. 

Last month, Abdullah Al Rawahi was the winner of the opening round in his native Oman for the second successive year and he and his Jordanian co-driver Ata Al Hmoud lead their respective Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ championships by six points from the local favourite and defending champion Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and his navigator Mathieu Baumel. 

Former FIA MERC2 champion Meshari Al Thefiri has returned to the category to try and win back his crown this season: the Kuwaiti made the perfect start in Oman by claiming third overall, the MERC2 win and a six-point advantage over Jordan’s Shaker Jweihan in the points’ standings.