Eighteen-year-old Emirati driver Rashid Al Dhaheri signed with Dutch outfit Van Amersfoort Racing on Thursday, October 15, to compete in FIA Formula 3 during the 2027 season. Al Dhaheri is a member of the Mercedes Junior Driver Programme, making him the first driver from the Middle East selected for the scheme that develops future Formula One talent.
He wrapped up his Formula Regional European Championship campaign at the Hockenheim circuit in Germany, finishing fourth overall after a season that included three race wins and eight podium finishes. At the midpoint of the season Al Dhaheri actually led the standings by 21 points, before eventually falling 38 points short of the title by the final round.
Al Dhaheri previously raced for the French team R-ace GP, and his move to Van Amersfoort, based in the Netherlands, marks the next step in his rise through the junior single-seater ladder. Team principal Brad Joyce welcomed the signing, while Al Dhaheri himself said every step has to be earned, and his focus now is on preparing as strongly as possible for 2027.
What makes the news notable for UAE motorsport fans is that Al Dhaheri will share the 2027 F3 grid with fellow Emirati driver Keanu Al Azhari, marking the first time the UAE has had two drivers competing simultaneously in the championship. The announcement also lands just weeks before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, adding to a busy period for Emirati motorsport followers watching the country's growing presence on the international racing ladder.