The 2027 Dakar Rally will not take place in Saudi Arabia after seven consecutive competitions in the region.

Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) and the Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) have jointly decided that the 2027 Dakar Rally will not be taking place in Saudi Arabia. Announced via an official statement posted on Instagram, the organisers said a new territory for the iconic rally raid will be revealed in the coming days. The post also assured motorsport enthusiasts that the Dakar Rally is still happening.

The organisers made the decision “following recent developments in the region”. Yemen’s Houthis launched attacks on the region during the continuing US-Israel war on Iran. ASO and SMC also consulted Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) with the support of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).

Motorsport reports suggest the rally raid could take place in Morocco or Spain. If it is moved to Morocco, it would be the first time the Dakar Rally has been held in Africa since 2007. As a reminder, the event began as a competition from Paris to Senegal’s capital, Dakar, from 1978 to 2007.

Saudi Arabia will, however, host Dakar 2028, with the organisers noting the location change for 2027 is “exceptional and one-off”. That year will mark the 50th edition of the rally raid. The country has hosted seven consecutive editions of the Dakar Rally since 2020.

 

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