Qiddiya City to host first FIA Extreme H World Cup round
The FIA Extreme H World Cup – the world’s first hydrogen-powered off-road motorsport series – has confirmed Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia, as the venue for its debut event, running 9th-11th October 2025.
It will be the first official race weekend for Extreme H after five seasons of Extreme E, the battery-electric championship that served as its testbed.
The final Extreme E round, the Desert X Prix, will run at the same location the weekend before (4th-5th October), handing over the baton from batteries to hydrogen.
Off-road racing in Qiddiya
Qiddiya City describes itself as “the world’s first city built entirely for play” – a vast entertainment and sports development on the edge of Riyadh.
Extreme H said its course will be set against the backdrop of the Tuwaiq Mountains, in what will be the first FIA-sanctioned hydrogen motorsport event anywhere in the world.
Saudi Arabia has been building its motorsport credentials quickly, adding Extreme H to a calendar that already includes Formula 1, Formula E and the Dakar Rally. The choice of Qiddiya puts hydrogen on the same stage and offers a global showcase for the technology.
Alejandro Agag, Extreme H founder and chairman, said: “Qiddiya City is the ideal launchpad for the FIA Extreme H World Cup, a new frontier for motorsport that embodies purpose, innovation and entertainment…
“More than just a race venue, it’s a statement of intent. A visually stunning, technologically ambitious location that sets the tone for a new era of motorsport.”
Building a sustainable city
Qiddiya Investment Company said the city aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060, with plans for 100% wastewater reuse, renewable energy infrastructure and EV charging in 80% of parking spaces.
Tree planting will form part of the Saudi Green Initiative, which targets 10 billion trees nationwide by 2030.
Extreme H said its hydrogen-powered SUV series is designed to demonstrate how fuel cell vehicles and mobile refuelling infrastructure can operate in remote conditions and under race-day pressures – a live test case for hydrogen’s potential in other sectors.
End of Extreme E
Saudi Motorsport Company CEO Eng. Mansour Almokbel said: “Hosting the Final Lap of Extreme E in Saudi Arabia marks a powerful moment; celebrating five years of innovation, impact, and truly boundary pushing racing.
“As we mark this finale, our focus is firmly on the future. The launch of Extreme H signals the next bold chapter in racing, and Saudi Arabia is proud to be playing a central role in shaping where the sport is headed.”
Agag added that running the final Extreme E race and the first Extreme H event back-to-back would offer “our full story, double the racing action.”
What’s next
Extreme H said details on teams, drivers and the sporting format will be released in the coming weeks.
Qiddiya will be the first chance to see the Pioneer 25 fuel cell race car and its hydrogen refuelling infrastructure running in full competition mode – a moment the series hopes will prove hydrogen’s ability to perform under the heat, dust and pressure of motorsport.
