The FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) is one of the region’s most established rally competitions, bringing together leading drivers and co-drivers across six rounds staged in Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. The championship challenges competitors across a diverse range of surfaces, including gravel, dirt and asphalt. Each round demands exceptional precision, concentration and endurance, as well as seamless coordination between the driver and co-driver to make critical decisions throughout the rally’s various stages. These qualities make MERC one of the most demanding motorsport championships in the region. Following a season of intense competition, the sixth and final round represents a decisive moment in the battle for the drivers’ and teams’ championship titles, with Saudi Arabia hosting the concluding round of the 2026 FIA Middle East Rally Championship.