Abdulaziz Saadon Al Kuwari reached a major milestone in his motorsport career by competing in the Dakar Rally for the first time in 2025. Racing in the Challenger Class (T3 category), the young Qatari driver represented the Nasser Racing Camp and drove a Taurus car across the demanding deserts of Saudi Arabia. Backed by his sponsor QMMF, Abdulaziz delivered a highly impressive performance, finishing 4th overall in his category.
“I fulfilled a dream,” Abdulaziz said after completing his first Dakar, expressing the emotion of reaching the finish line of the world’s toughest rally.
A Motorsport Family Legacy
Abdulaziz is the youngest star of the Al Kuwari family, one of the most prestigious motorsport dynasties in Qatar and the Middle East. His father was a rally competitor, while his brother, also his former teammate, is a highly successful co-driver with seven Middle East Rally Championship titles. Growing up in such an environment helped shape Abdulaziz into a focused, disciplined, and ambitious competitor from a very young age.
Motorsport has always been part of his daily life, and learning directly from experienced family members gave him a strong foundation in rallying, navigation, and race strategy. This background allowed him to adapt quickly to high-level competition and to manage pressure with maturity beyond his years.
Away from motorsport, Abdulaziz is also a high-level padel player, competing in major international tournaments. His involvement in professional padel highlights his athletic ability, physical fitness, and competitive mindset, qualities that play an important role in endurance events such as rally-raid.
An Intense and Successful 2025 Season
The 2025 season marked a turning point in Abdulaziz’s career. He finished second in the Middle East Rally Championship, only behind five-time Dakar winner Nasser Al Attiyah, and gained valuable experience by competing in several rounds of the World Rally Championship. He also took part in the Middle East Baja Championship and the Rallye du Maroc, a key round of the World Rally-Raid Championship.
These events helped Abdulaziz build experience in desert racing and long-distance competition, preparing him for the ultimate challenge of the Dakar Rally.
First Dakar Experience and Strong Result
Discovering the Dakar Rally for the first time is a demanding task for any driver. Despite being a Dakar rookie, Abdulaziz showed consistency, intelligence, and speed throughout the rally. Under the Nasser Racing Camp banner, he benefited greatly from the guidance and supervision of Nasser Al Attiyah.
After each stage, Al Attiyah spent time with the crew reviewing performance, explaining situations, and sharing advice based on his vast global experience. This mentorship played a key role in Abdulaziz’s strong 4th place finish in the Challenger class, a remarkable achievement for a first appearance.
Support from Nasser Racing and QMMF
Being part of the Nasser Racing Camp gave Abdulaziz access to top-level management, technical support, and strategic guidance. The daily debriefs and professional structure helped maximize performance throughout the rally.
Abdulaziz also expressed his appreciation for the Qatari Federation and his sponsor QMMF, whose support made his Dakar participation possible and played a crucial role in turning his ambition into reality.
Partnership with Stephane Duplé
Looking ahead to Dakar 2026, Abdulaziz will be partnered with experienced French co-driver Stephane Duplé. Duplé is a seasoned Dakar competitor who first took part in the rally in 2015 and has since worked with a wide range of drivers across different categories.
In recent years, Duplé navigated for Dania Akeel, helping her secure her first ever Dakar stage win in the Challenger class. When not competing, he works as a truck and car instructor in the Pyrenees region of France.
The duo has already raced together in Morocco, Qatar, and Dubai, building a strong working relationship and mutual understanding.
Stephane Duplé on the New Challenge
Duplé describes Abdulaziz as a very fast and talented driver with a strong rally background. He notes that rally-raid requires more than pure speed, emphasizing anticipation, strategy, and smart decision-making over long distances.
Their discussions during the Qatar and Dubai bajas helped refine this approach, and their performance in Morocco, often described as a mini-Dakar, was particularly encouraging. Duplé finished the season as runner-up co-driver in the Challenger class of the World Rally-Raid Championship and champion in the Middle East Championship, giving the team strong confidence heading into Dakar 2026.
Clear Ambitions for Dakar 2026
Looking ahead, Abdulaziz is determined to build on his successful debut and return stronger for Dakar 2026 in Saudi Arabia. He views each rally as part of a long-term learning process and remains focused on gaining experience at the highest level.
His ultimate ambition is to compete in the Ultimate category and one day race alongside Nasser Al Attiyah, forming a successful partnership with one of the greatest champions in rally-raid history.
With solid backing, growing experience, and a successful first Dakar behind him, Abdulaziz Saadon Al Kuwari is establishing himself as one of the most promising young talents in international rally-raid.
