Dania Akeel is seen during the prologue before the Rallye du Maroc in Arfud, Morocco, on October 15, 2025.
Dania Akeel poses for a portrait in Fuschl am See, Austria on June 28, 2024.

Dania
Akeel

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

·

Rally Raid

A former motorcycle racer, Saudi Arabia's Dania Akeel entered the world of rally-raid in 2021 and has won stages in both the Dakar and Abu Dhabi Rally.

Date of birth

26 September 1988

Place of birth

Jedah

Age

37

Nationality

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

Career start

2021

Disciplines

Rally Raid Side By Side/Quad

After achieving a degree in modern history and politics from Royal Holloway University in London, Dania moved to the UAE to complete a master's in international business. While in Dubai, she got a motorcycle license and began riding at the Dubai Autodrome racetrack.
It didn't take long before Dania sought out competition, and after receiving the first Saudi female license for motorcycle circuit racing, she contested the Ducati Cup in the UAE National Sportsbike Superseries 2019-20 season. Named the Rookie of the Year, she suffered a nasty injury in early 2020 after coming off her bike at a race meeting in Bahrain.
During her recovery, she decided to move back to Jeddah and soon discovered an interest in rally racing, largely because Saudi Arabia was home to the legendary Dakar Rally. She began competing in the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Bajas and dreamed of one day competing on home soil in the Dakar.
This dream became a reality in 2022, when Dania competed in the T3 category for South Racing Can-Am, finishing a credible eighth. “The Dakar was unbelievable. I really had a great time, and I saw how my driving developed over the course of the 12 stages, and I was very happy to see that progression,” Dania revealed to the official Dakar Rally website.
Dania returned to the Dakar in 2023 and once again completed all 12 stages. After success in the 2023 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, Dania put in another good showing in the 2024 Dakar in the T3 category and went even better in the 2025 edition, where she scored an historic win on the punishing Stage 10 in Saudi Arabia's infamous Empty Quarter.
Now, fresh off a third place in the 2025 FIA Rally-Raid World Championship for Challenger, which included a superb win at the Abu Dhabi Rally, Dania is ready to race for more stage wins the Dakar Rally 2026 podium.
Dania Akeel is seen during the prologue of the Rallye du Maroc in Fez, Morocco on October 12, 2025.

Dani Akeel on the way to third in the 2025 Rally-Raid World Championship

© Pawel Starzyk/Red Bull Content Pool

Dania Akeel and Stéphane Duplé of the Team BBR at the finish line of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge on February 27, 2025 Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The 2025 Abu Dhabi winner is Dania Akeel

© Kin Marcin/Red Bull Content Pool

Dania Akeel is seen at the SS4 of the Rally Raid BP Portugal in Lisbon on September 27, 2025 Lisbon.

Powering through Rally Raid Portugal

© Kin Marcin/Red Bull Content Pool

Dania Akeel of BBR Motorsport is seen during stage 2 of the South African Safari Rally on May 21, 2025 in Sun City, South Africa.

Ready to hit the Savannah at the South African Safari Rally 2025

© Tyrone Bradley/Red Bull Content Pool

Sending a wheel off into the South African bush

© Simon Bauchau/Red Bull Content Pool

Dania Akeel spraying the desert sand in Saudi Arabia on Stage of the Dakar

© Kin Marcin/Red Bull Content Pool

Taming the desert roads of Argentina during Desafio Ruta 40

© Kin Marcin/Red Bull Content Pool

Pioneering Saudi Arabian female rally-raid driver Dania Akeel

© Kin Marcin/Red Bull Content Pool