Two Emiratis will race in Formula 3 in 2027: Rashid Al Dhaheri and Keanu Al Azhari

Rashid Al Dhaheri, the 18-year-old Emirati driver in the Mercedes junior programme, will race in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2027 with Van Amersfoort Racing, the Dutch team announced. No Emirati has raced in Formula 3 before, and he will not be alone: Keanu Al Azhari has signed with Hitech for the same season.

Al Dhaheri moves up after finishing fourth in the 2026 Formula Regional European Championship with France's R-ace GP, where he won three races, at the Red Bull Ring, Monza and the Hungaroring, and took eight podiums. Earlier in the year he became the first Emirati to win a Formula Regional race, at Yas Marina Circuit. He joined the Mercedes junior programme in March 2025, the first driver from the Middle East to do so.

"It is an important milestone in my journey, but I know the hard work is only beginning," he said. His first race in the new series is set for Bahrain on 12 to 14 March 2027, the nearest round for fans in the UAE, with Jeddah following.