Dakar’s organisers have confirmed that the 2027 rally will move out of Saudi Arabia following recent developments in the region. A replacement territory is to be announced in the coming days. The event had been planned for January 1–15. Organisers describe the relocation as a one-off decision and say Saudi Arabia will host the rally’s 50th edition in 2028.
The Dakar Rally, the long-distance off-road motorsport event, will not be held in Saudi Arabia in 2027. Organisers Amaury Sport Organisation and Saudi Motorsport Company announced the move jointly on 25 October, citing recent developments in the region. The rally had been planned for 1–15 January 2027. A replacement territory is to be announced in the coming days, while Amaury Sport Organisation remains responsible for running the event.[1], [2]
The organisers described the decision as exceptional and one-off. They reached it in coordination with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, with support from the international governing bodies for automobile and motorcycle sport, the FIA and FIM. Amaury Sport Organisation is working directly with competitors, teams and partners to help them prepare for the relocated edition. No replacement host accompanied the announcement.[1]
Saudi Arabia has hosted seven consecutive Dakar editions since 2020. The organisers said the rally would return there in 2028 for its 50th running, with preparations already under way. The event originally ran from Paris to the Senegalese capital, Dakar, and remained associated with Africa for decades. It moved to South America in 2009 before beginning its Saudi Arabian chapter in 2020. The latest relocation applies to the 2027 rally.[1]
