Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Jun 02, 2025

Exclusive: Saudi female race driver Reema Juffali excited to be back in Dubai

Exclusive: Saudi female race driver Reema Juffali excited to be back in Dubai

Juffali's progress has been astonishing in the world of racing with stints at Formula 4 and British F3 Championship earning her global recognition
Having begun her career as Saudi Arabia’s first-ever female race driver in Dubai, Reema Juffali is now back in the city of iconic landmarks.

Juffali’s own progress has been astonishing in the world of racing with stints at Formula 4 and British F3 Championship earning her global recognition.

Last year, Juffali was the only female driver in British F3.

But now, the 29-year-old driver wants to test her skills in endurance racing, starting with the 24 Hours of Dubai race (January 14-15) at the Dubai Autodrome.

“Yeah, it (life as a race driver) has definitely come full circle. It’s really good to be back at a track where I started my racing journey,” Juffali told Khaleej Times over the phone on Tuesday.

“So to come back here after two-and-a-half years to be racing and competing in the 24 Hours of Dubai is more than I expected. And I am just excited to get back on the track,” added Juffali who would be racing for her new team, SPS Automotive Performance.

Endurance racing, Juffali admits, would demand different sort of skills from her as a driver.

“Yes, in single-seater racing, you are driving at 100 per cent from start to finish. But in endurance racing, sometimes you might have to drive at 70 per cent, and you may also have to nurse, hopefully not, mechanical issues or maybe the tyres that are worn out. So it requires a completely different strategy,” she said.

“I am going to learn a lot, a lot of new things for me. But I am definitely trying to be as prepared as I can be for the race.”

The next two years will be crucial for the Saudi trailblazer who hopes to engrave her name in the legendary Le Mans.

“It’s (Dubai event) definitely a step to reaching the goal of Le Mans. You know endurance racing requires a different sort of mindset. And the only way to get that experience is getting involved in these races,” she said.

“Le Mans is, of course, the pinnacle of endurance racing. You will definitely see me in the next couple of years getting involved in more of these races in order to achieve my dream of participating in the 24 hours of Le Mans.”

Finally, Juffali revealed what it meant to be named ambassador for the inaugural Saudi Arabian Formula One Grand Prix last year.

“You know the question I often get asked if what my greatest achievement or memory in racing is. Even though this one actually did not have me in a car, but I take pride in representing my country as an ambassador in the Saudi Grand Prix,” she said.

“Being the first Grand Prix and me playing my part, I could not have asked for anything better. And hopefully that experience of sharing my journey, connecting with Saudi and international audiences and showcasing Saudi for what it is, was definitely special.”

For Juffali, it was also a lifetime experience to witness the gladiatorial battle for the world championship between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in the season’s final two F1 races in Saudi and Abu Dhabi.

“It was exciting, a lot of nerves, you know, watching that it was hard to believe what happened in front of my eyes,” she said.

“I think it also showcases what the region has to offer in terms of tracks, facilities. I think the Saudi Grand Prix had the largest viewing audience of the year. This is only going to grow from here.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
×