Formula E Diriyah

The Diriyah E-Prix in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the international Formula E races, held annually in the Kingdom, specifically in the Historical City of Diriyah, affiliated with Riyadh Province. The city hosts the competition over a span of ten years, starting from 2018. The Diriyah race lasts for two consecutive days and takes place in different months each season.

Formula E races began in the Kingdom for the first time in 2018, following an agreement between the Ministry of Sports and the International Automobile Federation's council, to organize and sponsor it in collaboration with several entities, the most important of which is the Public Investment Fund.

The Kingdom hosts the Formula E races in Diriyah, known as the Jewel of the Kingdom, which includes al-Turaif District; one of the World Heritage sites registered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Kingdom is the first country in the Middle East to open its doors to this type of race.

Unlike Formula vehicles that operate on oil-based products, Formula E cars are free from any carbon emissions. They run entirely on electric power, making Formula E races environmentally friendly.

The Formula E events in Diriyah constitute a comprehensive entertainment festival. The Formula E Village, known as 'Allianz E-Village,' is a prominent feature, covering an area of up to 167,000 m2. In addition to the main racing event, the festival includes various entertainment activities, such as art exhibitions and musical performances, along with shopping areas and more.

The events of Formula E in Diriyah are considered an integrated entertainment festival, featuring the Formula E village, known as the Allianz E-Village. Besides the main racing event, the festival typically includes various entertainment activities, such as art performances and musical concerts, as well as shopping venues and more.

In 2018, the Kingdom hosted the fifth season of Formula E races for the first time. The race started on December 13 and concluded on December 15, with twenty-two professional drivers of various nationalities participating. It was the first time in the competition's history that the second-generation Formula E cars, known as Gen 2, were used in a race. These cars are faster and more advanced than the previous generation used in the past four seasons. The Gen 2 vehicles raced on a 2.495 km track, which includes twenty-one turns throughout various parts of Diriyah. At the end of the race, the winner was crowned first place, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, crown prince and prime minister.

The sixth season of Formula E races kicked off in 2019, marking the second season in the Kingdom. It took place on November 22 and 23, with the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, crown prince and prime minister. After the race concluded, the winner of the first place was awarded. The grand sporting events continued in the Diriyah season for thirty days. Alongside the Formula E race, a variety of events were organized, including: the heavyweight boxing championship, the historical Diriyah bout, the Diriyah Men's Tennis Cup, and the Diriyah Equestrian Festival, where winners qualified to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

In 2021, the events of the seventh season of Formula E races were held in their third year in the Kingdom, specifically on February 26 and 27 in Diriyah. For the first time in the history of the Formula E World Championship races, the race began at the Diriyah circuit at 8:00 pm. The racetracks were equipped with low-consumption LED lighting technology, which operates on renewable energy, contributing to a reduction in energy consumption by up to 50 percent, aligning with the eco-friendly nature of the race.

The night race featured twenty-four drivers, representing twelve teams from different parts of the world, racing on a track that is 2.83 km in length. Unlike the first and second editions of the race, it wasn't attended by a large audience due to precautionary measures against the COVID-19 pandemic. After the race concluded, the Minister of Sports, Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki al-Faisal, honored the champions who won the title, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

The competitions for the eighth season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship were held through the first and second rounds of the Diriyah Formula E race in 2022 on January 28 and 29, marking the fourth consecutive year on the Diriyah circuit.

The 2022 Diriyah Formula E races witnessed changes in the regulations and qualifying methods. It included a first round of two groups, allowing each driver the opportunity to make several attempts to record the fastest lap time within the allotted time. The top four fastest drivers in each group then get a chance to compete against each other, following a knockout system used in quarter and semi-final competitions.

The position of the first car at the starting line was determined based on the results of the final face-off between the drivers. The remaining positions were determined either by the results of the head-to-head matchups or the highest lap speed, depending on the qualifying stage the drivers reached.

Based on the new laws, an additional ten minutes were added to Formula E races in the event of accidents leading to the intervention of a safety car or the raising of a full-course yellow flag. This is during a standard race lasting forty-five minutes plus one lap.

In the race, which was held under the spotlight, twenty-two competitors representing eleven teams from around the world participated. They represented countries such as Brazil, Germany, France, the United States, China, New Zealand, Britain, and other countries.

The competitions for the Diriyah Formula E race in its ninth season of the ABB Formula E were held in 2023 on January 27 and 28 in the Historical Diriyah, marking the fifth time the event took place there. The high-speed electric car races were held at night as per the Formula E calendar, on the Diriyah track which includes twenty-one turns.

This edition of the race saw the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, alongside a number of high-level guests from global and regional countries.

Those interested in attending the Formula E race from outside the Kingdom can apply for a tourist visa for one month through the Sharek Electronic Platform, which is dedicated to a number of services related to major sporting events held in the Kingdom.

Formula E is the only competition in the world that allows fans to influence the race's outcome. This is achieved through a feature known as Fanboost. Fans can vote for their favorite driver either on the official website or through the Twitter and Formula E apps. After voting, the drivers who receive the most votes are given a competitive edge over their rivals. They are granted significant amounts of electrical energy that can be used for five seconds during the second half of the race. This boost can be pivotal, potentially making the difference between winning and losing when speed is of the essence.