2027 DAKAR RALLY … NOT IN SAUDI ARABIA!

Organisers have confirmed that Saudi Arabia won’t host its seventh consecutive Dakar Rally this coming January, with the new location to be announced any day now.

When a major motorsport event is hosted by a country primarily to bolster its tourism revenue (along with a dash of sports greenwashing), how do you go about announcing that it’s been cancelled due to visitor safety concerns? Euphemistically, is how…

Yes, instead of acknowledging that the 2027 Dakar Rally will not take place in Saudi Arabia due to the broadening conflict in the Middle East, Dakar organisers chose to inoffensively cite “recent developments in the region” in a statement they released earlier this week.

The carefully worded statement confirmed rumours that the 2027 Dakar Rally would not be hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its seventh consecutive year. The positive news is that the 2027 Dakar will still go ahead, albeit at a location that “will be announced in the coming days” and would return to Saudi for the 50^th running of the iconic event in 2028.

Here’s the ASO’s full statement…

Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) and Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) have jointly decided that Dakar Saudi Arabia 2027, scheduled from 1 to 15 January 2027, will not be held in the Kingdom, following recent developments in the region.

This decision is exceptional and one-off and was taken in close coordination with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), and with the support of the FIA and the FIM.

Dakar 2027 will go ahead. 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. A.S.O. is in direct contact with competitors, teams and partners to support them through this transition.

Saudi Arabia will host Dakar 2028, a landmark edition celebrating the 50th running of the rally. Both organisations are already working together to make this milestone an exceptional moment for the Dakar and for the Kingdom, with a shared commitment to once again deliver an iconic and world-class event to the highest of standards.

Since 2020, Saudi Arabia has hosted seven consecutive editions of Dakar, welcoming competitors from around the world on routes that showcased the Kingdom’s remarkable geographical diversity. These editions have made Saudi Arabia an integral part of the Dakar community and established a strong, long-term strategic partnership between A.S.O., SMC and SAMF. All three organisations reaffirm their commitment to continuing their cooperation, developing motorsport in the Kingdom and delivering outstanding experiences for competitors, teams and fans.