JEDDAH: Chairman of the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman has said that the Kingdom is fully equipped to host major sporting events on water — including the UIM E1 World Championship which began on Friday — for many years to come.
At a press conference on Friday at the Jeddah Corniche, the chairman said: “Hosting E1 Jeddah GP represents yet another big step toward bolstering Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global destination for sports and an active contributor to the international sporting community.
“We are thrilled to host this major race here in Jeddah for the second year in a row. We have gained more experience and everything is in place to make this race a success.
“Now, we really know what our partner wants to do much better. I always tell people that when you go to another season and work with other people, you become one family in order to contribute to the Saudi sports community. To keep this going is always great.”
Rodi Basso, the CEO at E1, said he was excited at the return to Saudi Arabia.
He added: “Last year it was the first ever in Saudi Arabia and definitely we had some doubts and uncertainties on the technical side, but the power of our collaboration with the SWSDF allowed us to be very ambitious and we managed to have an amazing round in Jeddah.”
Basso added: “I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and cooperation, which have enabled us to consolidate our racing footprint in Jeddah, and we look forward to a continued and long-lasting association with Saudi Arabia.”
The first round of the UIM World Championship began with its first race of the year at the Jeddah Corniche on Friday morning in front of thousands of water sports enthusiasts.
The weekend’s events span two days. Teams had free practice sessions early in the morning on Friday, allowing pilots to get a feel for the course, and qualifying rounds were taking place in the afternoon, including sprint and match races.
Saturday will include the semifinals and finals. The top teams from the semis will compete in the finals.
UIM E1 World Championship begins in Jeddah
https://arab.news/r5j43
UIM E1 World Championship begins in Jeddah
- Event ‘represents yet another big step,’ says Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman
- E1 CEO Rodi Basso: ‘We look forward to a continued and long-lasting association with Saudi Arabia’
Pitbull confirmed as headline act for Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Saturday concert
- The Grammy Award-winning global superstar will perform on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit Main Stage on April 18
JEDDAH: Pitbull has been confirmed as the headline act for the post-qualifying concert at this year’s Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, organizers announced on Sunday.
The Grammy Award-winning global superstar will perform on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit Main Stage on April 18, as part of the three-day race weekend running from April 17–19.
Pitbull, whose real name is Armando Christian Perez, is one of the most commercially successful artists of his generation, with billions of streams worldwide and numerous gold and platinum certifications.
The American artist remains a major touring draw, having completed sold-out arena runs across Europe and Australia in 2025. In January, he announced his “I AM Back Tour” in the US following a series of sold-out shows globally.
Pitbull’s appearance adds to a star-studded entertainment lineup for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend. Shakira and Kygo have already been confirmed as headliners for the post-race concert on Sunday, April 19.
Promoted by the Saudi Motorsport Co., the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has become one of F1’s standout events since joining the calendar, with the Jeddah Corniche Circuit holding the distinction of being the fastest street circuit in the championship.
The night race is staged along the Red Sea coastline and combines high-speed racing with large-scale live entertainment.
