Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2027 Unveils Route Featuring Three New Stages

Saudi Motorsport Company and Amaury Sport Organisation, in cooperation with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, have unveiled the route for the Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2027, which will take place from January 1-15, 2027.
 The announcement was made during a press conference in Paris, attended by Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and Saudi Motorsport Company Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdullah bin Faisal, Acting CEO of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and CEO of Saudi Motorsport Company Eng. Mansour bin Ali Al-Mokbel; A.S.O. CEO Yann Le Moënner; and Dakar Rally Director David Castera.
 Prince Khalid said: “Dakar has found a natural home in the Kingdom, not only because of its geographic diversity and demanding terrain, which align closely with the nature of the rally, but also because of the values it represents: resilience, endurance, and the spirit of discovery. These are the same values reflected by Saudi Arabia.”
 He added: “From the beginning, our objective has been clear: to present Dakar in a way that reflects the Kingdom’s identity as an ambitious, open country that connects with the world through sport. Today, we are not only announcing a new route; we are continuing a journey that began with welcoming the world and continues to grow stronger with every stage of this event.”
 The eighth edition in the Kingdom will cover 5,320 kilometres of timed special stages, the longest competitive distance since Saudi Arabia began hosting the rally in 2020, surpassing the 4,903 kilometres recorded in the 2025 edition.
 Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2027 will take competitors on a full loop route, starting and finishing in King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh Governorate. The course will include three entirely new stages and place a particular focus on the Red Sea region, while offering a varied mix of terrain.
 Sand sections, in their different forms, will feature more prominently than in previous editions, with fewer rocky sections, adding a new layer of technical challenge for competitors. While the route is geographically focused, it is set to deliver one of the longest, most varied and most demanding editions staged in the Kingdom.
 Registration for the rally has opened, including entries for the Dakar Classic category, while updated regulations have been announced to enhance competitive fairness, particularly across the historic vehicle classes.
 As part of efforts to support Saudi talent and innovation, Prince Khalid also launched the selection process for the third group of the Saudi Next Gen programme, which aims to identify and develop a new generation of Saudi rally-raid talent and enable them to take part in the global event.
 The Mission 1000 challenge will also feature an updated format designed to accommodate new innovation-led projects and raise technical and competitive performance, reflecting a continued focus on innovation in motorsport.
 The event also supports the continued development of the Kingdom’s motorsport sector and offers an integrated experience for competitors, teams, and fans, in line with Saudi Arabia’s established position on the international stage.