A late move, and a forced one
The 2027 Dakar will not be run in Saudi Arabia. Organizers confirmed on Friday that the 49th edition has been relocated to Portugal and Morocco, a decision taken less than three months before the January 9 start. They had already been forced to abandon the Saudi plan the week before.
The cause is the security picture in the region. Saudi Arabia is caught up in the wider confrontation between the United States and Iran, and the kingdom faces mounting attacks from Houthi fighters in Yemen, who are backed by Tehran. In a statement, the race direction called the change exceptional and promised a return to Saudi soil in 2028 for the event’s 50th edition.
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What the new route looks like
The rally will open the 2027 FIA and FIM world rally-raid championships. The programme is a prologue followed by 12 stages, running from January 9 to 23 between Loulé-Faro in Portugal and Marrakech in Morocco.
The prologue and the first stage stay in Portugal. The field then crosses to Africa on January 11, which means almost the entire race will be run on Moroccan terrain. Organizers praised the country’s deserts and said Morocco, a long-standing partner of the event, accepted the short timeline.
Race director David Castera thanked competitors for sticking with the project. More than 350 entries are already registered, and the Dakar will again be broadcast in over 190 countries.
A rare exception
For a race that has moved continents before, this relocation is still a heavy logistical lift on a short clock. Teams now have roughly ten weeks to adapt their shipping, support and preparation to a new map. Next year’s route may be temporary, but the sporting stakes will not be: it is still the season opener of the world championship.
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