Reema Juffali

Reema Juffali is the first Saudi woman to hold a racing license and the first to win an international motor race, making history while building a team to bring more Saudis—especially women—to the track.

EARLY YEARS

Born January 18, 1992, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Reema Juffali grew up in a country where motorsport wasn’t just male-dominated—it was virtually invisible to her. She attended the British International School in Jeddah, where she was an avid athlete, but racing wasn’t even on her radar. How could it be? Women couldn’t legally drive in Saudi Arabia until September 2017, let alone race.

It wasn’t until she moved to the United States that everything changed. Suddenly, motorsport wasn’t just a distant dream reserved for men in faraway countries—it was real, and it was possible. She fell hard for racing, the kind of love that makes you rethink your entire future. In October 2010, she passed her driving test in the U.S. and earned her first driver’s license. Seven years later, in September 2017—the same month Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on women drivers—Juffali obtained her racing license. The timing wasn’t lost on anyone.

OTHER INTERESTS

Outside of racing, details about Juffali’s hobbies and interests remain largely private. What’s known is that she was athletic growing up, thriving in sports during her school years in Jeddah. She’s also stepped into public speaking, appearing as a speaker at Ithra, Saudi Arabia’s cultural center. Beyond that, she keeps her focus sharp and her personal life off the grid—an approach that seems to suit someone whose public role is already monumental.

EARLY SUCCESS

Juffali didn’t ease into racing—she jumped in headfirst. Her professional debut came in October 2018 in the TRD 86 Cup and MRF Challenge. By December 2018, just two months later, she had her first major career victory. The following year, she made her F4 British Championship debut at Brands Hatch in April 2019, and by November 2019, she was making history again: she became the first Saudi woman to compete in an international race in Saudi Arabia, racing in the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy on the Riyadh Street Circuit.

But let’s be real—starting single-seater racing at 25 isn’t easy. Most of her teammates had been karting since they were kids. “I was ten years older than my team-mates, and I had to learn on the go, and I had to learn there and make mistakes there,” she admitted in an interview with Females in Motorsport. “In the beginning, I was chasing the pack, and then eventually I started racing them, but for the longest time, I was literally just catching up.”

Still, she kept pushing. By the end of the 2019 F4 British Championship season, she’d frequently scored points and finished 13th overall. A year in F4 built her confidence, and by 2020, she was racing in Formula 4 UAE. In 2021, she moved up to the GB3 Championship with Douglas Motorsport, taking on iconic tracks like Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2017: Became the first Saudi woman to hold a racing license.
• 2018: Earned her first major career victory in December.
• 2019: First Saudi woman to compete in an international race in Saudi Arabia (Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, Riyadh Street Circuit, November 22).
• 2019: Finished 13th overall in the F4 British Championship.
• 2022: Finished second in class at the Dubai 24 Hours in her endurance racing debut.
• 2022: Won the first two races of the International GT Open season in the Pro-Am class with co-driver Adam Christodoulou, finishing fourth and third overall.
• 2022: Secured second place in the Pro-Am class of the International GT Open season.
• 2022: Founded Theeba Motorsport to provide opportunities for Saudis through internships and apprenticeships.
• 2022: Named one of the world’s most inspiring and influential women by the BBC.
• 2023: Earned pole position in the Sprint Cup at GT World Challenge Europe—the first for Theeba Motorsport.
• 2023: Became the main protagonist in the Mercedes-AMG International Women’s Day campaign.
• Undated: Won the Bronze Cup at the 24 Hours of Spa, described as the world’s biggest GT race.

INSPIRATIONS

Juffali credits her longtime friend and driver coach Adam Christodoulou with helping shape her career. The two have partnered in multiple races, including her breakthrough International GT Open victories in 2022. Her mother, Sana, has also been a key figure, discussing the barriers her daughter has broken in interviews, including a notable conversation on International Women’s Day in 2022. Beyond that, Juffali hasn’t publicly named specific racing heroes or influences—her path seems to have been carved more by circumstance, determination, and the realization that motorsport could be hers to claim.

REPUTATION

Juffali’s reputation extends far beyond lap times. She’s regarded as a trailblazer and a role model—not just for female athletes in Saudi Arabia, but for women in racing worldwide. Her story has been covered extensively, always with a tone of respect and admiration for what she’s achieved against cultural and competitive odds. The media focuses on her history-making firsts, but she’s also building credibility on the track itself, consistently improving and competing at a high level in GT racing.

In 2022, Juffali founded Theeba Motorsport, her own racing team, with a mission to bring more Saudis—particularly women—into the sport. The team competes in the GT World Challenge Europe and aims to improve diversity and inclusion while providing internships and apprenticeships. “After a very successful debut weekend in the International GT Open with SPS Automotive, I’m very proud to announce the formation of Theeba Motorsport and to unveil our plans for the 2022 season,” she said at the team’s launch. It’s not just about her anymore—it’s about building a platform for the next generation.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Juffali’s ambitions are bold and specific. Speaking in an interview with Females in Motorsport, she laid out her vision: “To start off with, I’d say within the next three years, hopefully enter Le Mans under a Saudi license with some Saudis a part of the team. The hunger and the passion are there. We just need to provide the platform and that’s happening at home and the infrastructure is being established.” The goal is clear: get Theeba Motorsport to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most prestigious races in the world, within three years of the team’s 2022 founding—and do it with Saudis on the team.

As of 2024, Juffali continues to race with Theeba Motorsport in the GT World Challenge Europe. While no specific plans for 2025 and beyond have been publicly detailed in available sources, her trajectory suggests she’s not slowing down anytime soon. She’s building something bigger than her own career—a legacy, a team, and a road for others to follow.

References:

Wikipedia – Reema Juffali
Reema Juffali Official Website – About
Ithra – Reema Juffali Speaker Profile
Females in Motorsport – Reema Juffali Interview
Theeba Motorsport – Introducing Theeba Motorsport
Reema Juffali Official Website – Homepage
Northeastern News – Reema Juffali Profile