The UAE’s Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi and Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah will not be starting in Monte Carlo on Thursday, but both will be doing a limited campaign in the 2014 season of the WRC.

Al Attiyah is currently taking part in the Dakar Rally in South America and is lying fifth over all with five more tough days to go.

It is still not known for which team Al Attiyah will drive given that Qatar has withdrawn its sponsorship of M-Sport for the 2014 season.

Sheikh Khalid, like in 2013, will do a limited number of rounds starting with Rally Sweden, Portugal, Italy and Spain.

The Emirati is keen to concentrate his efforts on trying to win a second Middle East Rally Championship title, which gets underway in February.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Khalid is hoping the new-look Citroen Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team can make a powerful start to the season in Monte Carlo.

As chairman of Abu Dhabi Racing, Sheikh Khalid, who is in Monte Carlo to support the team over the weekend, had initiated the sponsorship agreement with Citroen Racing last year.