The stage is set for an interesting fight of power and tactical duelling when the Dubai International Baja powered by AW Rostamani and Nissan releases the UAE's second World Cup go across nation rally across the dunes and levels of the Al Qudra desert this weekend.

Happening under the patronage of H.H.Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Royal prince of Dubai, the event is the second round of this year's FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies for automobiles and buggies and the opening round of the FIM Bajas World Cup for bikes and quads.

Signing up with following month's Abu Dhabi Desert Obstacle on the FIA World Cup schedule, the inaugural occasion has drawn in an impressive line-up of 67 vehicle drivers and cyclists from across the Middle East and overseas.

They include Dubai-based Sam Sunderland who makes an initial affordable appearance because his dazzling Dakar Rally bikes victory in January. The cars and trucks, buggies, bikes and quads will certainly be flagged far from the ritualistic begin at the Bab Al Shams Arena at 7pm tonight (Thursday).

" We're extremely happy with the dimension and top quality of the entry in the initial year, and we eagerly anticipate some classic cross nation rallying in the Al Qudra desert," said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Auto and Touring Club of the UAE, the rally organisers, and the Emirates Automobile racing Federation.

Talking at a main interview today at the Bab Al Shams Desert Hotel & Health spa today, Sulayem included: "This occasion and the baja format reveals method in advance for rallying in the UAE and the Middle East all at once, and we're positive it will go from strength to stamina.

Salah Yamout, Director of Sales & Advertising for Arabian Autos, the front runner company of AW Rostamani Group, stated: "We're thrilled to be sustaining the launch of an occasion which belongs to the ATCUAE's initiative making the sport much more budget-friendly and therefore more sustainable by bring in a lot more local-based competitors.

Samir Cherfan, Managing Director, Nissan Middle East, claimed: "We are particularly satisfied to be signing up with hands with our business partner in Dubai and the Northern Emirate to offer our support to the Dubai International Baja which is really interesting enhancement to the UAE's motor sport calendar and offers us fresh opportunities to showcase the high qualities of the Nissan Patrol."

The Nissan Patrol is the main car for the event, and eight Patrols went into consist of one owned by Qatar's reigning FIA World Cup T2 production class champion Adel Hussain Abdulla that is backed by Nissan Middle East and partnered by French co-driver Sebastien Delaunay.

The rally is supported by Dubai Sport Council, Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defence, Al Ain Water and AssetCo Fire and Rescue. With the Bab Al Shams Desert Hotel & Health facility giving a luxurious setup, the event's operational HQ and technical parc ferme lies at the neighboring Bab Al Shams Field.

Poland's Aron Domzala and co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk, who lead the FIA World Cup for Cross Nation Rallies after last week's opening round victory in Russia in an Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux, are amongst 31 staffs standing for 15 nations who will fight for honours in the vehicles classification via the dunes and sabkha plains of the Al Qudra Desert.

Amongst his biggest competitors for the cars and trucks title are Qatar's ruling FIA World Cup champion and two-times Dakar Rally champion Nasser Al Attiyah partnered by Mathieu Baumel in a Toyota Hilux, and the UAE's Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi with Emirati co-driver Khalid Al Kendi in an Abu Dhabi Competing Peugeot 208 DKR.

Czech driver Miroslav Zapletal in a Hummer H3 Evo, Dutchman Erik Van Crazy, the 2015 Desert Obstacle runner up, and Frenchman Ronan Chabot - both owning a Toyota Hilux - are amongst 10 vehicle drivers getting in T1 prototype vehicles.

The 14 Emirati and UAE-based vehicle drivers contending include Ahmed Al Maqoodi that won the candidate occasion presented in Dubai in December that resulted in the rally being contributed to this year's World Cup calendar. He will certainly be partnered in a T3 Polaris buggy by 2012 Desert Difficulty quads champion Obaid Al Kitbe.

New Dakar bikes promote Sam Sunderland goings a line-up of 36 motorcyclists and drivers tackling the new occasion, making a welcome go back to action in the deserts of Dubai where so much of his growth into the sporting activity's top rider has actually happened in the last few years.

Amongst his main oppositions will be top Emirati biker Mohammd Al Balooshi, while an additional locally-based British challenger Dave McBride goes back to the scene of his victory in the December's World Cup candidate event.