Amman - Baja Jordan Rally is one of the Kingdom’s most prominent international sporting events, forming part of the FIA World Baja Cup and scheduled to take place from February 12 to 14 in southern Jordan. The rally’s routes stretch between the coastal city of Aqaba and the dramatic desert landscapes of Wadi Rum, showcasing some of the country’s most iconic destinations.
The rally attracts competitors from around the world, highlighting the region’s unique natural and tourism assets. More than a motorsport competition, Baja Jordan is a fully integrated sporting and tourism event that stimulates tourism and commercial activity during the race period and serves as a powerful promotional tool enhancing Jordan’s international tourism profile well beyond the conclusion of the event.
Hamza Al-Hassan, Media Director of Baja Jordan, explained that the rally plays a key role in promoting Jordan’s tourism by linking a world-class sporting event with the Kingdom’s leading tourist sites. Aqaba serves as a strategic starting point that reflects its growing status as a tourism hub, while the stages through Wadi Rum present its extraordinary desert scenery to a wide international audience.
Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Al-Hassan noted that this year’s rally enjoys significant media momentum as the second round of the World Baja Championship, with participants from various countries. This has resulted in extensive coverage across local, Arab, and international media outlets, in addition to strong digital exposure through the platforms of competing drivers and teams.
He added that visual content and videos shared by participants from the race routes and surrounding tourist sites further expand the rally’s media impact and strengthen Jordan’s image as a global destination for both tourism and motorsport.
On the sporting and tourism significance of the event, Jordanian competitor Abdullah Abu Aisha said that Baja Jordan provides an important platform for developing motorsport locally. It offers Jordanian drivers the opportunity to compete alongside elite international racers, enhancing their experience and professionalism, while reinforcing Jordan’s presence on the global motorsport map.
He added that the rally promotes Jordan as an adventure tourism destination by showcasing the country’s diverse terrain—from vast open deserts to striking natural landscapes—attracting participants and spectators from around the world and generating positive impacts on tourism and the local economy.
Meanwhile, fellow competitor Hashem Kalbouna emphasized that Baja Jordan is the largest motorsport event on Jordan’s calendar, as part of the World Baja Rally Championship. He noted that Jordan’s rally stages are considered among the most challenging globally due to the diversity of desert terrain, requiring high levels of preparation from both vehicles and drivers.
Kalbouna added that the rally represents a valuable opportunity to promote tourism in Wadi Rum and Aqaba, attract local and international audiences, and highlight Jordan’s strong reputation for organizing international sporting events with a high level of professionalism.
Baja Jordan Rally is organized through a comprehensive operational framework, with Hyatt Regency Aqaba – Ayla serving as the official headquarters. The competition spans three days across varied terrain in southern Jordan, led by the deserts of Wadi Rum. The total rally distance reaches 821.69 kilometers, including 472.19 kilometers of timed competitive stages, supported by advanced safety measures and logistical services.
