Watch Dania Akeel, Red Bull Rally driver, as she takes you through her training for Dakar 2025

A former motorcycle racer, Saudi Arabia's Dania Akeel entered the world of rally-raid in 2021 and finished eighth at her first Dakar Rally. Now, she's chasing podiums.
After achieving a degree in modern history and politics from Royal Holloway University in London, Dania moved to the UAE to complete a master's in international business. While in Dubai, she got a motorcycle license and began riding at the Dubai Autodrome racetrack.
It didn't take long before Dania sought out competition, and after receiving the first Saudi female license for motorcycle circuit racing, she contested the Ducati Cup in the UAE National Sportsbike Superseries 2019-20 season. Named the Rookie of the Year, she suffered a nasty injury in early 2020 after coming off her bike at a race meeting in Bahrain.
During her recovery, she decided to move back to Jeddah and soon discovered an interest in rally racing, largely because Saudi Arabia was home to the legendary Dakar Rally. She began competing in the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Bajas and dreamed of one day competing on home soil in the Dakar.
This dream became a reality in 2022, when Dania competed in the T3 category for South Racing Can-Am, finishing a credible eighth. “The Dakar was unbelievable. I really had a great time, and I saw how my driving developed over the course of the 12 stages, and I was very happy to see that progression,” Dania revealed to the official Dakar Rally website.
Dania returned to the Dakar in 2023 and once again completed all 12 stages. After success in the 2023 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, Dania put in another good showing in the 2024 Dakar in the T3 category and is back for the 2025 edition, where she has a top result firmly in her sights.