Amman, November 2025: With a growing track record of achievements and an expanding pool of talent from across the region, the first ever FIA MENA Esports Championship continues to accelerate its regional presence with unstoppable momentum, building upon the solid foundations already established by the successful MENA Esports Cup. The 2025 edition brought the MENA’s top sim racers to the Jordanian capital, Amman, underscoring the championship’s rapid five-year evolution and its pivotal role in elevating the regional digital racing scene.

This year marks a milestone for the series, as it becomes the world’s first Esports racing championship to receive official sanctioning from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). The event is organized in collaboration with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, Desert Fox Racing and Jordan Motorsport.

The 2025 qualifiers drew exceptional engagement, with more than 700 drivers from 20 countries across the region. This broad participation - representing both citizens and residents - raised the competitive stakes and set the stage for a more inclusive, high-energy racing experience spanning the MENA.

After months of fierce preliminary battles, 40 drivers earned their place in the regional qualifiers, demonstrating unwavering focus and technical precision. With only 24 spots available in the finals, the margins were tight, leaving no room for error. The qualifiers were held on 18 October on the ‘Autodromo Lago Maggiore’ circuit in Gran Turismo 7 - where the field was narrowed to an elite roster of finalists who would go head-to-head in The ARC Esports Arena at the King Hussein Business Park in Amman.

The 2025 finals promise an extraordinary level of competition, marked by a first-ever showdown between three champions from previous editions. Debut season champion Sami-Joe Abi Nakhle returns to circuit racing in pursuit of a second title, competing alongside Mohammed Al Barwani of Oman and 2024 champion Mohammed Hadi of Iraq.

The trio face fierce opposition from several of the region’s strongest contenders, including Saudi Arabia’s Nayef Al Faleh, a title favorite in the past two editions, along with Wissam Khalil, Waseem Abu Khalil and other drivers who have shown impressive performance gains in recent months. With the field this competitive, every lap has the potential to shift the leaderboard and deliver unexpected twists right to the final seconds.

2025 FIA MENA Esports Championship - Finalists :

• Iraq: Mohamad Hadi
• Lebanon: Sami-Joe Abi Nakhle
• Lebanon: Waseem Abou Khalil
• Saudi Arabia: Naif Al Faleh
• Saudi Arabia: Wessam Khalil
• Bahrain: Hassan Khalil
• Bahrain: Sadiq Marhoon
• Oman: Wassif Al Kharusi
• Oman: Mohammed Al Barwani
• Jordan: Sham Abu Jabal
• Jordan: Abdullah Al Azzah
• Kuwait: Mahdi Bualiyyan
• Kuwait: Abdulrahman AlDhafiri
• Qatar: Khalid Al Maraghi
• Qatar: Faisal Al Yafei
• Palestine: George Saadeh
• Palestine: Rayyan Batta
• Yemen: Zeid Al Areqi
• Algeria: Mohammad Kheireddine
• Morocco: Reda Ihssain
• Morocco: Ali Khouya
• UAE: Mohammed Idris
• Libya: Musa Mheidy
• Tunisia: Karim Chouiref

Fans can follow the action from the final rounds live on the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Middle East channel on YouTube, and stay updated on race schedules and championship news through the official pages on Facebook and Instagram.