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Aseel Al-Hamad is a Saudi Arabian interior designer, engineer, and motorsport trailblazer who became the first female board member of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation and the first Saudi woman to drive a Formula 1 car—making history not once, but twice, in a country where women couldn’t legally drive until 2018.

EARLY YEARS

As a child in Riyadh, Aseel’s eyes lit up watching model race cars dart across the living room floor. But her world—like that of every Saudi girl—was one where the driver’s seat was strictly off-limits. She channeled her love for design and speed into academics instead, graduating from Prince Sultan University in 2009 with a degree in interior design engineering. She went on to found IDegree Design, her own engineering and design firm, and became a member of the Saudi Council of Engineers. But even as she built a successful career managing over 40 residential and commercial interior design projects across the Kingdom, her passion for motorsports never dimmed. She was the girl who dreamed in horsepower, in a place where that dream seemed impossible.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the racetrack, Al-Hamad is a talented artist who has won multiple prizes in drawing and painting competitions. In 2000, she took first prize at the Art Painting Competition in Riyadh. Her creative eye translates seamlessly into her work as an interior designer—she’s the force behind high-profile projects including the Bagatelle pop-up in Jeddah and has earned recognition as one of Saudi Arabia’s leading interior designers. She also served as the sports car section manager at Rose Auto Magazine, blending her dual loves of design and automobiles into a career that defied every stereotype about what Saudi women could—or should—be doing.

EARLY SUCCESS

Al-Hamad became the first Saudi Arabian woman to import and own a Ferrari, a move that raised eyebrows and turned heads in equal measure. In December 2017, she shattered another barrier when she was appointed as the first female board member of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF), a role that positioned her at the heart of the Kingdom’s motorsport landscape. She was also appointed as Saudi Arabia’s representative to the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, giving her a global platform to advocate for female racers. These weren’t just titles—they were radical acts in a nation on the cusp of seismic social change.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2017: Became the first female board member of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation.
• 2018: On June 24, the day the driving ban was officially lifted in Saudi Arabia, celebrated with a historic lap of honor in a Jaguar F-TYPE, marking the dawn of a new era for Saudi women.
• 2018: Drove a Renault Formula One car around the Paul Ricard Circuit at the French Grand Prix in front of thousands of fans, becoming the first Saudi woman to drive an F1 car.
• 2018: Received the National Driver’s Award in Saudi Arabia and was honored by PR Arabia for her efforts in educating Saudi women on motorsports and safe driving.
• 2018: Selected as part of the ‘Next Big Thing’ campaign by the General Investment Authority for helping to transform the image of Saudi Arabia.
• 2023: Co-founded STEER, a tourism company specializing in supercar tours across the Kingdom, merging her passion for motorsport with Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning tourism industry.
• 2023: Joined the Women’s World Car of the Year international jury, a body made up exclusively of women from around the globe.
• Became the first woman to drive a Formula 1 car in Saudi Arabia alongside W Series driver Abbi Pulling.

INSPIRATIONS

Al-Hamad’s inspiration comes from a place deeper than trophies or lap times—it’s about opening doors that were previously welded shut. She’s driven by the belief that motorsport can be a vehicle (pun intended) for female empowerment in Saudi Arabia and across the region. In interviews, she’s been clear: her achievements mean little if they don’t pave the way for the next generation. She’s focused on developing young talent through initiatives like FIA Girls on Track, which she helped bring to Saudi Arabia, and has been a vocal advocate for increasing the number of women holding racing licenses—currently a dismal 1.5 percent globally.

REPUTATION

Al-Hamad is widely regarded as a pioneer—not just in Saudi motorsport, but in the broader movement for women’s rights in the Kingdom. She’s been called a “state feminist” by some activists, someone who works within the system to push for change rather than outside it. Her story has been celebrated internationally, but she’s also faced criticism from those who see her as a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s rebranding efforts rather than genuine revolution. Still, there’s no denying her impact: she’s a mentor, a leader, and a jury member for the Women’s World Car of the Year. She’s the woman who put Saudi Arabia on the motorsport map—not by asking for permission, but by taking the wheel.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Al-Hamad is focused on scaling her impact. Through STEER, she’s working to position Saudi Arabia as a premier destination for supercar tourism, attracting enthusiasts from around the world. She’s also committed to expanding motorsport infrastructure in the Kingdom, including the construction of new racing facilities and the development of Formula 4 academies for young drivers. Her ultimate goal? To see a generation of Saudi women not just participating in motorsport, but leading it—on the track, in the boardroom, and everywhere in between.

REFERENCES

Aseel Hamad Shifting Gears—The Trailblazing Journey of Saudi Arabia’s First Female Racer
Aseel Al Hamad and Abbi Pulling become first women to drive an F1 car in Saudi Arabia
Aseel Al Hamad – Championing Saudi Arabia’s Motorsport and Design Landscape
Aseel Al-Hamad – Wikipedia
Aseel Al Hamad, Saudi Arabia’s first female pilot
Renault Kicks Off Race Day by Handing Keys to Aseel Al-Hamad
Historic Drive by Saudi Woman as Driving Ban Lifts
Aseel Alhamad – Women’s Forum
Saudi woman Aseel Al-Hamad drives F1 car on historic day
Interior Design Projects in Riyadh: Idegree Design
FaceOf: Aseel Al-Hamad, board member of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation
Saudi representative joins Women’s World Car of the Year
Aseel Al Hamad From Formula 1 Trailblazer to Icon of Female Empowerment in Saudi Motorsports
Female car juror a sign of changing times in motorsport-mad Middle East
FIA Girls on Track makes its mark in Saudi Arabia
Meet The Saudi Interior Architect Who Has Designed The New Bagatelle in Jeddah
Aseel Al-Hamad tells CNN: Nothing is impossible
Aseel Al Hamad: Fueling Supercar Tourism and National Progress
Motorsport must encourage more women to compete, says Saudi racer
The Best Of The Best: 5 Leading Interior Designers In Saudi Arabia
Leading women’s empowerment from the front
Is the End of Saudi Arabia’s Driving Ban a Rebrand or a Revolution?