Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) and Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) announced Sunday that next year’s Dakar will not be held in Saudi Arabia following recent developments and escalating security concerns in the region. The 2027 Dakar is still scheduled to run January 1-15, but the rally will now take place in a different territory. Organizers said the new location will be announced in the coming days as ASO works to finalize an alternative venue and route.
The decision marks a major change for the world’s most famous rally-raid event, which has been staged exclusively in Saudi Arabia since 2020. The Kingdom had been preparing to host its eighth consecutive Dakar before the deteriorating security situation forced organizers to reconsider the event.
“This decision is exceptional and one-off,” ASO and SMC said in their joint announcement. Despite the relocation, organizers emphasized that the 2027 Dakar will go ahead. ASO is already working directly with teams, competitors and partners to manage the transition to the new host territory.
The move is being described as a one-time change, with Saudi Arabia scheduled to regain the Dakar in 2028. That edition will be particularly significant as it will mark the 50th running of the Dakar Rally. ASO, SMC, the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, FIA and FIM all reaffirmed their commitment to continuing their partnership and bringing Dakar back to Saudi Arabia for the milestone event.
With less than three months remaining before the scheduled start, organizers face the enormous task of establishing a new route, logistics operation, bivouac infrastructure, medical plan and border-crossing procedures while keeping the race on its January calendar.
