Dakar Rally 2027 moved out of Saudi Arabia amid conflict in Middle East
The Amaury Sport Organisation and the Saudi Motorsport Company have relocated the January 2027 Dakar Rally away from Saudi Arabia due to mounting regional security concerns. While organisers explored an alternate northern route, recent strikes—including an attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport that killed 18 people and injured hundreds—made remaining in the kingdom impossible. A replacement host will be announced within days, with reports indicating Morocco or Spain as leading contenders; a move to Morocco would mark the rally’s first African stage since 2007. Organisers still plan to return to Saudi Arabia in 2028 for the event's 50th edition.
The move is the latest setback for Saudi Arabia, which has hosted the endurance race since 2020 but is now contending with disruptions from the US-Israel war on Iran and deadly strikes by Yemen's Houthis. The unrest has forced multiple high-profile cancellations and shifts: the Jeddah Formula One Grand Prix and the World Rally Championship finale were both scrapped, the WTA Finals were relocated to Indian Wells, California, and a tennis showcase with Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Alexander Zverev was delayed until late December.
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