If Khalid Aljafla were a boxer, his style would be fearless and relentless. This same daring attitude fuels his passion for motorsport, especially as he takes on the harsh challenges of desert rallies, including the iconic Dakar Rally.
Although motorsport is in his DNA, Aljafla can’t pinpoint when his love for the sport began. However, he vividly recalls imagining himself driving through the desert before the age of 10.
“I grew up in a motorsport family in Dubai. It was always a part of my life,” Aljafla shares.
What began as a childhood passion turned into an obsession. Aljafla and his friends even built a track in Dubai where they rode until a shoulder injury temporarily sidelined him. But his determination brought him back stronger, shifting his focus to rally cars.
A Career Built on Resilience
Aljafla’s journey from motorsport enthusiast to professional rally driver has been remarkable. This path has taken him to prestigious events and brought him to the brink of a major milestone: winning his first world championship. At the Dubai International Baja, he needs a solid finish on December 1 to secure the title.
With the final round in Dubai, a victory on home turf would hold special significance for Aljafla.
“We grew up watching the Dubai Rally. It’s an event that has been a part of our lives. Winning here would be emotional,” he says.
A Unique Competitor
Unlike many rally drivers, Aljafla stands out because he builds and designs his rally cars himself. He began crafting these vehicles in 2010 when he entered the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge with a buggy he created in his own garage.
“For over 15 years, I’ve been building buggies in my garage, Dune Bike, in Ras Al Khor,” Aljafla explains. “These cars follow strict FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) standards to qualify for rally events.”
The car he is racing for the world championship in Dubai is another creation from his workshop.
Building these high-performance vehicles is no small feat.
“You need a chassis engineer, body engineer, and designers. It’s a complicated process,” he says. “The car I’m racing now cost me around AED 800,000. Everything from special brakes to safety features is expensive and must meet FIA standards. But my 20 years of experience help me create cars that fit the precise needs of these events.”
Recognized for Excellence
Mohammed Al Balooshi, a well-known Emirati biker and three-time world champion, praises Aljafla for his dedication.
“He’s the only Arab building rally cars entirely in his own garage and the only designer in the Arab world doing it right,” Al Balooshi shares.
“At first, we doubted him because it requires so much time, energy, and money. But now he’s on the verge of becoming a world champion, proving that his efforts weren’t in vain.”
More Than a Champion
Whether or not Aljafla secures the world championship title this week, his influence on motorsport in the UAE is undeniable.
“I started my garage to store bikes for friends and myself. Over time, it grew into a business,” Aljafla says.
His garage not only maintains bikes but also designs and builds cars for rally events. Today, it’s one of the few places in the UAE offering this unique service.
“The sport grew alongside us. We built tracks, trained, and maintained our vehicles. Now, we’re the only ones in the UAE building rally cars,” he proudly states.
Khalid Aljafla’s journey is a testament to perseverance and passion, inspiring future generations of motorsport enthusiasts in the UAE and beyond.
