The Rally Dakar will move its 2027 edition from Saudi Arabia to Morocco due to ongoing armed conflict and security concerns in the Middle East, according to planning details shared with participating teams.

Amaury Sport Organisation, the governing body of the endurance rally, informed competitors that the 2027 event will return to the African continent, SPORT reported.

European Start and Route Plans

Administrative and technical verifications for the rally are scheduled to take place in Europe from January 6 to January 8, 2027. A prologue stage is planned for January 9 on European soil, with organizers evaluating options to host this preliminary phase in either Spain or Portugal, SPORT reported. The two countries have previous experience with the rally and had previously hosted stages when the competition operated under the Paris-Dakar title. LaVanguardia.com noted that the overall competitive route will span approximately 4,300 to 4,900 kilometers across 12 stages, featuring a marathon stage without mechanical assistance where competitors sleep in the desert.

The final competitive day of the rally is scheduled for January 22, 2027, after 12 stages, a marathon stage, and a designated rest day. Both Spain and Portugal share historical ties to the event from its previous European-African era under the Paris-Dakar banner. The last iteration of the rally held on the African continent took place in 2007, starting in Lisbon, Portugal, and traversing Morocco, Mauritania, and Mali before finishing in Dakar, Senegal.

Return to African Soil After Saudi Tenure

Founded in 1978, the rally traditionally ran from European cities to Senegal before security threats in Mauritania forced the cancellation of the 2008 edition. The event subsequently relocated to South America, staging events across Argentina, Chile, and Peru through 2018. Amaury Sport Organisation trasladó la competición a Arabia Saudí, donde se celebró por primera vez en el 2020.

The shift back to Morocco comes in response to heightened regional instability, as Saudi Arabia is immersed in a climate of tension. Recent security incidents in the region include a strike by Yemen’s Houthis targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and territorial movements by armed groups. These security pressures have forced motorsport promoters to reassess event locations across the Middle East.

Uncertainty Surrounding Formula 1 and MotoGP Finales

The scheduling adjustments for the rally arrive as other major international motorsport series monitor the security climate. SPORT noted that Formula 1 and MotoGP face ongoing calendar reviews following earlier cancellations, including the postponement of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit and the Bahrain Grand Prix. The final rounds of the current Formula 1 world championship remain scheduled for Qatar and Abu Dhabi, while MotoGP organizers prepared to run a rescheduled Qatar Grand Prix.

Neither Amaury Sport Organisation nor regional motorsport federations have issued a final public press statement formalizing the 2027 route adjustments, though according to consulted sources, the organization of the Rally Dakar will make the news official regarding the transfer from Saudi Arabia to Morocco in the coming days.