Organisers have confirmed the 2027 Dakar rally will go ahead outside Saudi Arabia, with a new host location to be announced in the coming days.
Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) and Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) announced the Dakar 2027 move in a joint statement, citing “recent developments in the region” as the reason for relocating the event.
The rally had been scheduled to run in Saudi Arabia from 1–15 January 2027. The statement did not identify the alternative location or confirm whether those dates would remain unchanged.
Organisers described the decision as “exceptional and one-off”, with Saudi Arabia set to host the rally again in 2028 for its 50th edition.
The move was agreed in close coordination with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), with support from the FIA and FIM, the governing bodies for car and motorcycle competition respectively.
A.S.O. will organise the 2027 event and says it is in direct contact with competitors, teams and partners to help manage the transition.
“Dakar 2027 will go ahead,” the statement said. “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.”
Saudi Arabia has hosted seven consecutive editions of Dakar since 2020. The move will temporarily interrupt that run, although organisers have reaffirmed their commitment to the rally’s long-term future in the Kingdom.
A.S.O. and SMC say preparations are already underway for the 2028 milestone event, with both organisations and SAMF committing to continued cooperation.
Further details of the 2027 rally’s location and arrangements are expected with the forthcoming announcement.
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