Hassan Jameel Crosses the Dakar Finish Line After 7,900 km Through the Saudi Desert

Two Weeks, 13 Stages, One Debut

Hassan Jameel, Vice Chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel, completed the 2026 Dakar Rally in January, covering 7,900 kilometers of sand dunes, rocky tracks, and desert corridors over two weeks. He was one of 564 drivers, riders, and navigators entered in the 48th edition of the race, competing alongside Polish navigator Maciej Giemza.

“An endurance both physically and mentally is unlike anything else,” Hassan said after finishing. “The competition is fierce, the mental focus required is as extreme as you can imagine.” He described it as “the toughest experience of my life.”

The race ran from Jan. 3 to 17, with the start and finish lines in Yanbu, on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. Thirteen competitive stages covered a total of 5,000 kilometers in timed sections.

Inspired by the Athletes He Supports

Hassan said the decision to enter Dakar came partly from watching the Jameel Motorsport ambassadors he has worked alongside for years. Dania Akeel, the first Saudi woman to cross the Dakar finish line, in 2022, and Yazeed Al Rajhi, the 2025 Dakar Rally Ultimate Champion, were both cited as motivations.

“I’ve always held the ultimate respect for motorsport athletes, particularly Dania and Yazeed, but I never truly understood what they put their bodies through in these feats,” he said. “Today, I believe I understand a fraction of what they go through.”

What Comes Next

The Dakar entry fits the wider ambition of Rally Jameel, Abdul Latif Jameel’s own motorsport event, which has grown into an international platform with a specific emphasis on women’s participation. Hassan has described the rally as a vehicle for showing that Saudi Arabia is “an open country.”

“It was hugely emotional to cross the finish line — of course, I was very happy, but hugely relieved too, as I truly didn’t know if I was going to be able to finish it,” he said. “This has inspired me to continue to work hard to achieve feats like this.”