Dakar Rally 2027 Set to Shift From Saudi Arabia to Africa Amid Security Concerns

POLICY WIRE — Paris, France — The iconic Dakar Rally is reportedly poised to return to African soil for its upcoming 49th edition. Citing ongoing instability in the Middle East and specifically within Saudi Arabia, event organizers are shifting the competition away from the region where it has found a home since 2020.

Three individuals closely connected to the World Rally-Raid Championship, including two competitors and one team manager, indicated that the event will bypass its previous venue entirely. Instead, the 2027 contest is slated to kick off with an opening prologue in Europe, with either Spain or Portugal acting as the starting point.

The governing body behind the competition, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), communicated the strategic shift directly to participating teams during a phone briefing on the morning of October 19, 2026. Prior to this update, official plans had outlined a massive event running from January 1 to January 15, featuring a historic 5,320-kilometer path starting and concluding in King Abdullah Economic City.

Should security conditions continue to degrade in Saudi Arabia, the ASO has prepared a contingency plan involving an eight-stage rally hosted in Morocco. This adjustment would mark the prestigious endurance race’s first time competing in Africa since 2007.

While formal confirmation from the ASO remains pending, an official route announcement was anticipated between October 26 and October 27. The sweeping adjustments will impact both the primary Dakar Rally and the companion Dakar Classic categories.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)