The UAE’s first female Formula 4 powerboat racer is preparing for a defining month of international competition, culminating in an attempt to break a world speed record.

August 2026 could prove to be the most significant month of Alia Abdulsalam Fairooz’s sporting career so far. Over the coming weeks, the Emirati racer will compete in two major international events before taking part in a world speed record attempt, presenting three opportunities to demonstrate both her progress as a driver and the growing presence of Emirati women in motorsport.

Alia is currently completing an intensive training camp in Songe, Norway, as the final stage of her preparation for the 2026 UIM Formula 4 World Championship. Running from July 25 to August 6, the programme combines physical conditioning with demanding on-water sessions focused on boat handling, reaction speed, cornering and adapting to changing race conditions.

Race simulations are also helping her prepare for the pressure and unpredictability of international competition. In Formula 4 powerboat racing, speed is only one part of the challenge. Drivers must maintain control while navigating tight corners and turbulent water at high speeds, making concentration, technical precision and rapid decision-making essential.

Immediately after the camp, Alia will travel to Viverone, Italy, to compete in the UIM Formula 4 World Championship from August 7 to 9. Her preparation programme has been designed to support her ambition of competing for a place among the world’s top ten F4 drivers.

She will then return to Norway for the Norwegian Grand Prix in Drammen from August 21 to 23. The month will conclude with perhaps her boldest challenge yet: an attempt to break the world speed record between August 28 and 30.

“Every lap I complete during this camp brings me one step closer to my goal,” Alia told Emirates News Agency. “I am not only representing myself, but also the United Arab Emirates.”

For Alia, the coming competitions are about more than personal results. As the first Emirati woman to compete internationally in Formula 4 powerboat racing, every appearance carries a wider significance. Her growing presence in the sport reflects the opportunities now available to UAE women in fields once considered largely inaccessible to them.

“I am determined to demonstrate that Emirati women are capable of competing in one of the most demanding forms of motorsport and reaching the highest levels of international success,” she added.

Alia enters the international season with growing competitive experience behind her. During the 2025 UAE Formula 4 Championship, she finished joint third overall, an achievement that confirmed her ability to compete consistently rather than simply participate. She is now preparing for her third national campaign while continuing to refine her skills on the international circuit.

Powerboat racing remains a challenging and traditionally male-dominated discipline, but Alia is establishing her place through performance. The visibility that accompanies her success could also help younger Emirati women imagine themselves in technical and competitive sporting roles, whether on the water, behind the wheel or within the wider motorsport industry.

This August, however, Alia’s attention will remain firmly on the next race. Three major challenges await, each offering the chance to move closer to her ambitions while carrying the UAE flag onto the international stage.