The honour comes after a history-making journey that has established the Emirati driver as a motorsport pioneer.
Dubai: Emirati racing driver Amna Al Qubaisi has been named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports for 2026, earning global recognition alongside some of the biggest names in international sport.
The inaugural list honours athletes, executives, innovators and leaders who are shaping the future of sport. This year’s selections include basketball icons LeBron James and Stephen Curry, football superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, tennis champions Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, as well as a host of Olympic and world champions from across the sporting landscape.
Al Qubaisi’s inclusion marks another landmark achievement in a career defined by breaking barriers in motorsport. In 2018, she became the first woman of Arab descent to take part in a Formula E test session in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. She later competed in the F1 Academy, the all-female series created to expand opportunities for women in motorsport, and featured in the Netflix docuseries F1: The Academy.
Earlier this year, Al Qubaisi made history again by becoming the first woman to compete in the Pro class of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. She followed that breakthrough with back-to-back top-10 finishes at the championship’s Fuji round, further strengthening her reputation as one of the Middle East’s most accomplished racing talents.
Earlier this year, Amna Al Qubaisi made history once again by becoming the first woman to compete in the Pro class of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. She followed that milestone with back-to-back top-10 finishes at the championship’s Fuji round, further cementing her reputation as one of the region’s leading motorsport talents.
Beyond her achievements on the track, Al Qubaisi has emerged as a prominent ambassador for motorsport in the Middle East, inspiring a new generation of young women to pursue careers in racing and helping broaden participation in the sport across the region.
Her latest recognition comes amid a period of rapid growth for women’s sport globally, with TIME highlighting athletes, executives and changemakers who have helped drive progress, challenge barriers and expand opportunities throughout the sporting world.
Al Qubaisi was also the only Arab representative featured on TIME’s inaugural list of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports, highlighting the significance of the recognition for both the UAE and the wider region’s sporting community.
As the UAE continues to strengthen its position as a global destination for major sporting events, Al Qubaisi’s inclusion among TIME’s most influential figures reflects the growing presence and impact of Emirati athletes on the international stage.
From Formula E and the F1 Academy to the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Amna Al Qubaisi has consistently broken new ground throughout her career. Her latest accolade places her among an elite group of athletes, innovators and sporting leaders helping to shape the future of global sport.
