Maha Al-Hamali

Maha Al-Hamali is a Saudi rally driver, businesswoman, and fashion designer who traded couture for coordinates, proving that you can absolutely chase two wildly different dreams—and podium in both.

EARLY YEARS

Born in 1987, Maha Al-Hamali grew up in Saudi Arabia at a time when women driving was still decades away from legal. But that didn’t stop her from sharpening her instincts behind the wheel whenever she could. Growing up, she honed her driving skills on unfamiliar roads—a necessity that became a passion[1]. Those early experiences navigating tough, unpredictable terrain planted the seeds for what would later become a full-blown love affair with rally racing.

At 37 years old in 2024, Al-Hamali belonged to the generation of Saudi women who passed their driving tests just five years prior, when the Kingdom lifted its ban on female drivers in 2018[2]. That historic shift didn’t just open roads—it cracked open possibilities. And Maha was ready.

OTHER INTERESTS

Before she ever thought about racing professionally, Al-Hamali built a name for herself in an entirely different arena: fashion. She’s the founder of AL-MAHA DESIGNS, a contemporary fashion brand known for its vivid colors, modern silhouettes, and innovative cuts[3]. Her work in the fashion world wasn’t just a side gig—it was a full career, one that demanded creativity, precision, and an eye for detail. Sound familiar? Turns out, those same skills translate beautifully to rally navigation.

As an employee of Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, she was already immersed in the automotive world, which gave her a front-row seat to the機械and culture of motorsport[4]. Working in that environment made her one of the first women in Saudi Arabia to seize the opportunity to practice driving in a more serious, competitive way once the ban was lifted. She didn’t just get her license and call it a day—she went looking for a challenge.

EARLY SUCCESS

Maha discovered rally driving in 2019 at a driving school, and it didn’t take long for her to realize this was more than a hobby[5]. By 2022, she was ready to test herself for real. Her turning point came at Rally Jameel, the first-ever all-female rally in Saudi Arabia, where she decided to participate to see if her driving skills and competitive spirit could hold up under pressure[6]. Spoiler: they could.

In that inaugural Rally Jameel, she finished in third place alongside co-driver Pochola Hernández, piloting a Toyota Prado[7]. It was her first rally ever, and she landed on the podium. Not a bad debut. The experience lit a fire. She later said Rally Jameel was “one of the best experiences of my life,” praising the event for empowering women and giving them a platform to compete[8].

From there, things moved fast. By 2023, she was competing in both the Saudi Toyota Championship and the Middle East championships, and she took first place in the Saudi Toyota Championship in her category[9]. That same year, she won rallies in Hail and Neom in an SSV shortly after visiting the Dakar Rally as a spectator[10]. Clearly, watching wasn’t enough.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2022: Third place at the inaugural Rally Jameel with co-driver Pochola Hernández, driving a Toyota Prado[7].
• 2023: First place in the Saudi Toyota Championship in her category[9].
• 2023: Competed in the FIA Middle East Cross-Country Bajas T4 standings, finishing second[11].
• 2024: Second place at Rally Jameel with American co-driver Eleanor Coker of Team Obiyya[12].
• 2024: Made her Dakar Rally debut, racing through the Empty Quarter on her 37th birthday[2].
• 2024: Second place in the Challenger T3 category and sixth overall at the Tabuk Toyota Rally[13].
• 2025: First place in the PT4 category at the third edition of Rally Jameel with co-driver Eleanor Coker[14].

INSPIRATIONS

Maha races under the team name Obiyya—a word that means strength in Arabic[5]. She’s said she’s very proud to be called that, and it’s a fitting banner for someone who’s had to carve her own path in a sport that’s only just opening its doors to women in her country. The fact that she came to racing later in life, after building an entire career in fashion, speaks to a kind of fearlessness that doesn’t wait for permission.

Her participation in Rally Jameel wasn’t just about personal achievement—it was part of a broader cultural moment. She’s been vocal about how meaningful it is to compete in events designed to empower women and give them visibility in motorsport[8]. For someone who couldn’t legally drive until her thirties, that’s not just inspiration—it’s revolution.

REPUTATION

Al-Hamali has become a symbol of what’s possible when barriers come down and women are given the chance to compete. She’s known not just for her skill behind the wheel, but for her boldness in switching lanes—literally and figuratively—from fashion to motorsport. Her story resonates because it’s not a straight line. She’s proof that you don’t have to pick one dream, and you don’t have to start young to be fast.

In Saudi Arabia, where women’s motorsport is still in its early days, she’s part of the vanguard. Her success has helped shine a light on the growing number of female drivers in the Middle East, and she’s become a visible, vocal advocate for women in racing[15]. She’s also earned respect for her consistent improvement—podium finishes, category wins, and a Dakar debut all within a few years of picking up the sport seriously.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Maha competed in the 2026 Dakar Rally, continuing her push into the world’s most grueling rally raid events[16]. She’s racing with co-driver Michel Metge in a BRP Can-Am Maverick R in the SSV1 category under South Racing Can Am[17]. With Rally Jameel expanding across borders in 2025 and Maha taking second place in that year’s event, she’s clearly not slowing down[18]. If her trajectory so far is any indication, expect her to keep climbing podiums—and rewriting what’s possible for women in Middle Eastern motorsport.

REFERENCES

[1] Maha AlHamali – Jameel Motorsport
[2] The Empty Quarter as a birthday present – Dakar
[3] About Designer – AL-MAHA DESIGNS
[4] Maha AlHamali – Jameel Motorsport
[5] Dakar 2026 – Explore: Maha Al Hamali – Vidéo Dailymotion
[6] Maha AlHamali – Jameel Motorsport
[7] Women’s motorsport picks up speed in the Middle East
[8] From a fashion designer to a rally driver – Jameel Motors
[9] Maha AlHamali – Jameel Motorsport
[10] The Empty Quarter as a birthday present – Dakar
[11] Maha Al-Hamali plans Dakar Rally debut in 2024
[12] Maha AlHamali – Jameel Motorsport
[13] Maha Al Hamali achieves second place in the 2024 Tabuk Toyota Rally
[14] Rally Jameel concludes on International Women’s Day
[15] Saudi Women Race To The Finish Line For Rally Jameel 2023
[16] Dakar 2026 – Explore: Maha Al Hamali – YouTube
[17] Chronomoto LIVE
[18] Rally Jameel 2025 expands across borders – Arab News