Saudi Arabia’s VC at the Jeddah circuit will run until at least 2027! The reason is the Qiddiya mega project

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah circuit will remain there until at least 2027, according to the latest information. The original home for this Formula 1 event was to be the city of Qiddiya on the outskirts of Riyadh. However, work on the track is still ongoing with no end in sight.

The first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah circuit was held in 2021, and of course at the Jeddah circuit.

However, that was only supposed to be the temporary home of this race. According to Motorsport , the Saudi Grand Prix will remain at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit until at least 2027.

This is due to the ongoing work on the mega project called Qiddiya. This is actually the construction of a new destination to be located on the outskirts of Riyadh. The original plan was revealed by Saudi officials back in 2019. What exactly is it all about?

What is Qiddiya?

“Qiddiya will become a groundbreaking destination that will be recognised on the world stage as home to the most innovative and immersive experiences. Our broad offering will be based on five cornerstones.

Sport and Wellness, Nature and Environment, Parks and Attractions, Movement and Mobility, and Arts and Culture, making Qiddiya the capital of entertainment, sport and the arts not only in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but around the world,” reads the official Qiddiya website.

Back to F1…

It was revealed in early January that Saudi Arabia is in the running to host the opening round of the F1 season in 2024.

In fact, its representatives have reached an agreement with Australia to change the date. This ensured that the Saudi Grand Prix would not clash with Ramadan, which runs from March 10 to April 9. However, the exact date of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is yet to be confirmed by the FIA and also by F1 itself.

“It is important that we secure the future of the Jeddah track. And that is why we have again worked with the FIA and Formula 1 to secure a circuit that will allow us to host the Jeddah race while work begins on the Qiddia track,” Motorsport quotes Martin Whitaker as saying in his capacity as CEO of the Saudi Motorsport Company, which is promoting the race.

In future years, Formula 1 will still race in Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah circuit. When the action will move to the new circuit is currently a big question. However, the Saudis want to complete the project by 2030.

F1, Motorsport, Qiddiya