Team Brady secures second consecutive title as Saudi Arabia prepares for Jeddah 2026 opener. The Saudi Times was in Miami for the two day E1 Championship Finale on November 7th and 8th, among celebrity team owners and a vibrant VIP crowd. Izabella spoke to key individuals to gain an insight on post-final feelings, environmental gains and excitement for the Season Three kick-off on the Kingdom’s Red Sea coastline.
Will Smith, Rafael Nadal and Marc Anthony are fist bumping a win, sitting on a couch on the coast of Biscayne Bay, Miami. No – not the start of a joke. It’s the finish line scenario of the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF – a new international sporting series where celebrities own teams that race for the health of our planet’s waters.
The E1 Series concluded its second season with a tightly contested finale in Miami, where Team Brady claimed the championship for the second year in a row. The event – presented by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) – brought together teams from across the world, including Saudi Arabia’s own Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James, and Team Aioki with Saudi pilot Mashael Al Obaidan, one of the Kingdom’s most visible female sports figures.
For Saudi Arabia, participation in the world’s first electric powerboat championship reflects parallel priorities: diversifying the Kingdom’s sporting portfolio, advancing clean marine technology, and promoting environmental awareness through high-visibility international events. With Jeddah set to return as the 2026 season opener, the relationship between E1 and the Kingdom is expected to deepen further.
Series Growth Reflected in Miami Finale
E1 Co-founder and Chairman Alejandro Agag described the Miami event as a milestone that demonstrates how quickly the championship has evolved since its launch. Speaking from London, Alejandro told The Saudi Times :
“The Miami race was really the highest, best event we’ve had so far,” Alejandro said. “It was a fantastic end to season two and it showed the huge potential of E1 that can bring fantastic racing and high-end events to cities around the world.”
The Miami finale was also the platform to announce team expansion with the confirmation of a new team, Team Sierra, owned by the Ozmen family, which will join the grid for 2026.
Alejandro reflects that the growth is set to continue:
“In 2026 we can expect new teams, some new venues, more and better racing and more excitement,” he said. “We will continue our efforts in marine conservation, expanding into coral restoration, Posidonia oceanica work, beach cleanups and other activities. And of course, we will keep developing technologies that make mobility on the water cleaner.”
PIF’s Role as Presenting Partner
PIF has been the championship’s principal backer since its inception, a point Alejandro underscored when asked what “Presented by PIF” signifies for E1.
“PIF is our key partner and our main backer,” he said. “They made possible the creation and start of the E1 Championship, and since then they’ve always supported it. We couldn’t have a better partner.”
The Fund’s involvement aligns with its broader investment in “sport with purpose” – initiatives that combine entertainment with long-term environmental or technological objectives.
Scientific Leadership and Environmental Innovation
Environmental research and scientific leadership remain central to E1’s mission, guided by Professor Carlos Duarte, the championship’s chief scientist and a leading global marine biologist. Duarte, who spent more than a decade at KAUST University and continues to work closely with Saudi marine research programs, said Season Two delivered measurable progress in integrating environmental action with elite sport.
“I have seen positive change,” Carlos told The Saudi Times whilst in Miami. “Lessons learned from previous experiences guided an improved strategy to maximize impact through partnerships and direct engagement with teams. They now compete not just for speed but for positive impact on aquatic ecosystems through the Blue Impact Championship.”
Ahead of the Miami finale, E1 organised, along with other entities, a Blue Impact Summit at Florida International University, bringing together scientists, policymakers, investors and sports leaders to discuss emerging strategies for ocean resilience. The event focused particularly on “Hope for Corals,” highlighting global conservation models and the ecosystems most likely to withstand climate stress. The topic carries specific relevance for Saudi Arabia: northern Red Sea corals, especially those along the Saudi coastline, are projected to be among the last surviving coral systems globally due to their unusually high tolerance for heat.
Carlos said E1’s structure – which includes a competition for teams to deliver measurable ecological impact – has already produced tangible benefits.
“I have seen positive change,” he said. “Lessons learned from previous experiences guided an improved strategy to maximize impact through partnerships and direct engagement with teams. They now compete not just for speed but for positive impact on aquatic ecosystems through the Blue Impact Championship.”
He added that Saudi Arabia is well positioned to use sport as a tool for environmental engagement.
“Sports is a huge unifier and mobilizer in Saudi Arabia and globally,” he noted. “PIF is the main investor in sports with purpose. This is visionary, rooted in Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy and deliver a vibrant society. Sport is the hinge connecting both goals.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Carlos said planning is underway for a major initiative in Saudi Arabia.
“We are starting to plan a Blue Economy Summit that will set in motion an ambitious strategy for a regenerative blue economy – one that generates wealth and quality jobs while improving ocean health.”
Saudi Arabia’s Growing Role Through SWSDF
The Saudi Water Sports & Diving Federation (SWSDF), led by HRH Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman Al Saud, oversees the Kingdom’s involvement in the series. Saudi Arabia has hosted E1 since its launch, with Jeddah becoming a recurring venue.
The Saudi Times asked Prince Sultan on his views on behalf of the Federation on E1 as both a sporting and educational platform.
“We look forward to hosting another global event that brings people from all over the world together,” he said. “More importantly, it is a platform to explore how we can use technologies developed through racing to sustain the environment.”
He added that the series contributes to several aspects of Vision 2030, particularly community engagement and environmental protection.
“Vision 2030 highlights the environment and the need to change best practices across leisure, sport and business,” he said. “E1 is a perfect example that you don’t need internal combustion or pollutant sports to have great action. You can have excitement while keeping the environment in mind.”
Impact on Public Perception and Youth Participation
Prince Sultan said that since Saudi Arabia began hosting E1, the Federation has observed a shift in public interest in sport.
“We’ve seen a massive positive impact,” Prince Sultan said. “Many people now watch the races regularly. Viewers have pointed out that it’s one of the few racing sports where you can see the entire track in front of you, which helps engagement.”
He also noted that the electric nature of the sport has contributed to changing perceptions around sustainable technology.
Youth interest has also grown, aided by the visibility of teams, the design of the boats and the increasing number of international athletes associated with the sport.
“Team identity and design help start conversations about environmental responsibility,” he said. “It’s a good entry point to introduce young people to sustainability concepts.”
Looking Ahead to Jeddah 2026
With Season Two complete, the championship now turns its attention to preparations for the 2026 championship opener in Jeddah. For the Kingdom, the event is an opportunity to combine competitive sport, technology, tourism and environmental programming into a single international platform.
Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James and Saudi pilot Mashael Al Obaidan are expected to continue playing a visible role as the sport evolves and new teams – including Team Sierra – join the grid.
The combined focus on competition, innovation and ecological responsibility ensures that Saudi Arabia’s involvement in E1 will remain central to both the championship and its wider goals of promoting sustainable marine mobility and supporting initiatives that support the very ecosystems that make the sport possible.
The Saudi Times continues to bring in-depth reports on the sporting events both in the Kingdom and with Saudi Arabian participation. Follow for more insights as we continue to cover the stories that shape the nation.
