Qiddiya City announced as host of the inaugural Extreme H World Cup

Qiddiya City has been announced as the host of the Extreme H World Cup to mark the debut of the hydrogen-powered championship. 

The Saudi Arabian venue is the first city built entirely for entertainment and tourism. It is located within the Riyadh Province and construction began in 2019.

This news follows the unveiling on Tuesday of the inaugural Extreme H World Cup, which will run on a multi-year contract and is set to start on 9-11 October 2025. It will take place on a specially designed off-road course and act as a successor to Extreme E.

Extreme E launched in 2021 to highlight the impact of climate change by staging off-road events in challenging locations across the world while running on low emissions. 

But with hydrogen fuel now seen as the future, not electric, the World Cup will mark the championship’s transition into Extreme H while Extreme E will host its final event in Saudi Arabia on 4-5 October.

Alejandro Agag, Extreme H founder, 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. We are proud to showcase the power of hydrogen and sustainable technology.”

The Extreme H World Cup will run a similar format to Extreme E in that each team must field one male and one female driver per car, something that saw the likes of Carlos Sainz Sr, Jenson Button and Jamie Chadwick all contest the electric series. 

Eng. Mansour Almokbel, CEO of Saudi Motorsport Company, 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. 

“This series has redefined sustainable motorsport, captured global attention, and showcased our stunning landscapes to millions around the world.

“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.

“These milestone events reflect our ambition to be a global home for pioneering motorsport, driving progress, sustainability, and the spirit of innovation.”

This is all part of Qiddiya’s plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060, with initiatives that include 100% wastewater reuse, renewable energy infrastructure and EV charging in 80% of parking spaces.

Central to the plans is a major tree planting focus with Saudi Arabia’s national goal of planting 10 billion trees by 2030.