“I don’t know how I completed the stages”
RIDER FACTS…
- The move of the Dakar to Saudi Arabia has attracted more and more local competitors. Four years after Mishal Al Ghuneim became the first Saudi to compete in the bike race (and finish it), Abdulhalim Almogheera followed his footsteps last January.
- After competing in all the rounds of the Saudi cross-country championship, the rider from Al Hassa in the central part of Saudi Arabia decided to go for the Dakar. To add to the challenge, he registered in the Original by Motul class and reached the finish in 87th position.
- After what he considers as his biggest ever accomplishment, the 38-year-old who works for the government wants more. “Haleem” returns to the Dakar in the toughest of all categories with no assistance after once again preparing during the Saudi championship and taking part in several legs of the FIM Baja World Cup.
2025 AMBITIONS
A.A.: “My first rally was in Ha’Il in 2021 and from that I developed a passion and decided to continue competing in rallies. I succeeded in finishing the 2024 Dakar doing it in the toughest category, Original by Motul. The stages were so challenging with lots of rocks added to the navigation. Honestly, I don’t know how I completed the stages. Every day, I thought it would be my last in the rally and I wouldn’t be able to continue. But at night I had that feeling that I needed to keep going. I tried to encourage myself every single day. Prince Khaled (president of Saudi Arabia Motor Federation) would come to see me daily, encouraging me and telling me I was a champion and that I could complete the rally. Managing to do that is considered a huge accomplishment.
I continued my journey this year in the Saudi Championship. Our goal was to also compete in rallies outside of the Middle East and to compete in the front positions.”
