Oman wants to become the fifth round on the FIA Middle East Baja Cup in 2027. To do so, the Oman Automobile Association is organizing the inaugural Oman International Baja , which will run from March 26 to 28.

The OAA’s website reads:

Are you ready for the first International BAJA in the Sultanate of Oman? Right from the heart of Bidiyah, among the Sharqiya Dunes and golden sands, the thrill is about to begin.

This exciting BAJA event will take place over three days, starting Thursday, 26 March 2026, from Desert Camps with a Prologue Stage. Riders will navigate the wavy waypoints through the stages on Friday and Saturday, 27 and 28 March, across Qabel and Bidiyah. A total of 800km to fulfill!

Spectators will experience unforgettable scenery and the true spirit of desert adventure. Enjoy the heat and have lots of fun.

While cross-country rally is a fairly new discipline, the Arab country has a deep rallying history. It has hosted the Oman International Rally since 1979 and has been an annual stop for the Middle East Rally Championship throughout the series’ 42-year history.

Nasser Al-Attiyah is a nine-time victor of the OIR, making him the event’s most successful driver. He won the latest edition in late January, just a week after claiming his sixth Dakar Rally and a fortnight before winning the MEBC’s season-opening Saudi Baja.

As a candidate event, the OIB will be run under the oversight of FIA officials but isn’t on the calendar. If the FIA likes how the OAA fares, it will be added to the 2027 MEBC schedule or even the World Baja Cup if the FIA feels the bigger scale is more appropriate; all four MEBC rounds are also on the WBC.

Featured image credit: Oman Automobile Association