Saudi Arabia will once again host the first event of the Formula E calendar, as the electric car competition returns for its sixth season.

The Ad Diriyah E-Prix will take place on 22 and 23 November as the first two rounds of the 2019-20 Formula E season.

The Ad Diriyah street circuit also opened the 2018-19 season, which concludes in New York in July.

Alberto Longo, the competition’s deputy CEO, said: “Next season promises to be the most exciting and eagerly-anticipated in the short history of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.”

It will be the largest Formula E season yet, with 14 races taking place across 12 cities.

The all-electric competition began in 2014 with 11 races, with the current season taking place across 13 rounds.

Ad Diriyah is the only race in the Middle East, with other rounds taking place in Santiago, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Rome, Paris, Berlin, New York, London and Seoul.

The season finale will return to London for the first time since 2016, with a double round taking place on 25 and 26 July 2020.

As well as confirming the new dates, Formula E organisers have announced a few minor rule changes, including giving drivers an extra 10kW of power to use in “attack mode”.

“Alongside the tweaks made to the sporting regulations, the racing has the potential to be even more intense and unpredictable than ever,” added Longo.

“I already can’t wait to get started again in Ad Diriyah in November.”

With three races to go of the 2018-19 season, French driver Jean-Eric Vergne is in pole position to retain his title, with the Chinese DS Techeetah the fastest of the 11 teams.

As in its inaugural 2018 event, the Ad Diriyah E-Prix will take drivers around the historic city walls of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.