The 2027 edition of the Dakar Rally will be hosted by Portugal and Morocco, organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) announced, after the event was pulled from Saudi Arabia over security concerns. The prologue and opening stage will be in Portugal's Algarve region before the rally moves to Morocco for 11 stages.
The 49th edition, initially scheduled for January 1 to 15, will now run from January 9 to 23, pending approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
The Dakar Rally, regarded as the world's toughest motorsport challenge, began in 1978 as a race from Paris to Dakar. It moved to South America between 2009 and 2019 after leaving Africa for security reasons and has been hosted by Saudi Arabia since 2020. The return to Africa for the 2027 rally marks its first time on the continent since 2008.
Dakar director David Castera said the relocated edition would meet its usual sporting standards despite the short timeframe. "We have designed a true Dakar," he stated. The route covers 7,824 kilometres, including 4,341 kilometres of special stages, running from Loule-Faro in Portugal to Marrakesh in Morocco.
ASO described the decision to move the race out of Saudi Arabia as “exceptional and one-off.” The 50th edition of the Dakar Rally in 2028 would return to the kingdom.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Returns the Dakar to Africa: The rally will be held in Africa for the first time since 2008, restoring a link to its trans-Saharan origins.
- Logistical challenge: Organisers have had to design a new route across two countries on a tight timeline after the late withdrawal from Saudi Arabia.
- Geopolitical signal: The move underscores how regional security concerns are reshaping the calendar for major international sporting events.
Background
The Dakar Rally was launched in 1978 as the Paris-Dakar, traversing the Sahara to Senegal. It moved to South America from 2009 to 2019 due to security risks and has been held in Saudi Arabia since 2020. For the 2027 edition, ASO revoked Saudi hosting duties five days before the new route was announced, citing security concerns.
What to Watch
- FIA approval: The rally's new January 9-23 dates are subject to formal approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
- Route execution: The tight turnaround time raises questions about the preparation of the 11 Moroccan stages.
- 2028 return: Whether Saudi Arabia will successfully host the 50th edition as planned, depending on the evolving security landscape.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe 2027 Dakar Rally is moving from Saudi Arabia to Portugal and Morocco.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The 2027 edition of the Dakar Rally will be held in Morocco following a prologue and first stage in Portugal”
- SupportedOrganisers said the event would not be held in Saudi Arabia because of security concerns.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) said, five days after announcing the event would not be held in Saudi Arabia due to security concerns.”
- SupportedThe 49th edition starts in Portugal’s Algarve region and concludes in Marrakesh.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The Algarve will host the prologue and the first special stage.”
- SupportedMorocco will host 11 stages.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Morocco, with the aim of exploring its territory in its entirety, from north to far south, will host 11 stages and a rest day in Agadir”
- SupportedThe rally’s dates changed from January 1–15 to January 9–23, subject to FIA World Motor Sport Council approval.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The 49th edition of the Dakar Rally, initially scheduled to run from January 1 to January 15, will now take place from January 9 to January 23, subject to approval by the International Automobile Federation (FIA)’s World Motor Sport Council.”
- SupportedThe 2027 rally’s return to Africa is its first time on the continent since 2008.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Morocco hosting the race means the Dakar Rally will return to Africa for the first time since 2008.”
- SupportedThe route is 7,824 kilometres, including 4,341 kilometres of special stages.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Dakar 2027 will feature a total distance of 7,824km (4,862 miles), including 4,341km (2,697 miles) of special stages”
- SupportedDavid Castera said the relocated edition would meet its usual sporting standards despite the short timeframe.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““The relocated 49th edition of the Dakar will meet the sporting standards that have always made it the most demanding rally-raid event,” Dakar director David Castera said. “Despite the short timeframe we have had to work with, we have designed a true Dakar.””
- SupportedCastera said, “We have designed a true Dakar.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““Despite the short timeframe we have had to work with, we have designed a true Dakar.””
- SupportedASO described the decision to move the race out of Saudi Arabia as “exceptional and one-off.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “ASO said on Sunday that the decision to move the race out of Saudi Arabia was “exceptional and one-off”.”
- SupportedThe 50th edition in 2028 would return to Saudi Arabia.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The 50th edition of the Dakar Rally in 2028 would return to the kingdom”
- SupportedThe rally was staged in South America from 2009 to 2019 after leaving Africa for security reasons.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “It was later staged in South America between 2009 and 2019 after leaving Africa for security reasons.”