The rally was based at DEWA’s Innovation Centre located at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, which is the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. 

It has a planned production capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030, with investments totaling 14 billion USD. When completed, it will save over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. 

The EMSO’s new partnership with DEWA is a big step forward for the national motor sport authority as an organisation committed to the sustainable development of the sport.

“The use of this facility means that electrical power provided to Rally HQ and the Service Park to run the event is generated from sustainable solar power,” said EMSO President and FIA Vice President for Sport Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

“We are setting an important trend and hope other motor sport events in the region and overseas will follow. We are committed to making a better environment.”

In 2015, EMSO became only the third ASN in the world, and first in the Middle East, to receive the FIA 3-star Environmental Accreditation, the highest official recognition available for sustainable development initiatives in line with environmental goals of the FIA.

EMSO has since increased efforts to minimise waste, promote recycling and use of recycled materials, and use resources more efficiently to reduce consumption at events like the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, and the FIA Cross-country rallies Bajas World Cup, to mention a few.

“We are glad to support the first FIA World Cup cross-country event to be run on solar power at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The Innovation Centre is a global hub for renewable and clean energy innovation that is expected to contribute to shaping the future of sustainable energy in Dubai and externally”, said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

EMSO continues its efforts to run sustainable events on international and national level and encourages the stakeholders in the UAE to improve their standards and follow the environmental guidelines.