Dakar 2027 officially moved from Saudi Arabia ahead of landmark return in 2028

The 49th edition of the Dakar Rally will not take place in Saudi Arabia due to rising tensions in the Middle East, with a new location set to be confirmed. 

This was confirmed as part of a statement by Dakar officials, although a return to Saudi Arabia is already planned for 2028. 

The 2027 event is expected to be moved to Morocco, which would mark the first time that the rally has not been held within Saudi Arabia since 2020.

Moving the event was expected after the Iran-aligned Houthi movement recently claimed missile and drone attacks on Saudi-owned Aramco oil and gas facilities, as well as targets in Riyadh. 

The UK Foreign Office has since updated its travel advice for parts of Saudi Arabia, while the FIA also cancelled the World Rally Championship round scheduled to take place in Jeddah in November.

Confirming its move away from Saudi Arabia for 2027, Dakar officials released a statement saying: 

“Dakar 2027 will not take place in Saudi Arabia: the rally will return to the Kingdom in 2028 for its 50th edition.

“Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) and Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) have jointly decided that Dakar Saudi Arabia 2027, scheduled from 1 to 15 January 2027, will not be held in the Kingdom, following recent developments in the region.

“This decision is exceptional and one-off and was taken in close coordination with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), and with the support of the FIA and the FIM.

Dakar 2027 will go ahead. The 2027 edition will take place in a different territory and will be organised by A.S.O. The location will be announced separately in the coming days. A.S.O is in direct contact with competitors, teams and partners to support them through this transition. Saudi Arabia will host the Dakar 2028, a landmark edition celebrating the 50th running of the rally. Both organisations are already working together to make this milestone an exceptional moment for the Dakar and for the Kingdom, with a shared commitment to once again deliver an iconic and world-class event to the highest of standards.

“Since 2020, Saudi Arabia has hosted seven consecutive editions of Dakar, welcoming competitors from around the world on routes that showcased the Kingdom’s remarkable geographical diversity. These editions have made Saudi Arabia an integral part of the Dakar community and established a strong, long-term strategic partnership between A.S.O., SMC and SAMF. All three organisations reaffirm their commitment to continuing their cooperation, developing motorsport in the Kingdom and delivering outstanding experiences for competitors, teams and fans.”

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