The Dakar Rally, an annual off-road racing event, will not be held in Saudi Arabia in 2027 and will move to another location outside the kingdom. Organisers say the decision follows recent “developments” in the Middle East and that a new destination will be announced.
Multiple outlets report that the event was originally scheduled for January and has been held in Saudi Arabia since 2020. They describe the change as driven by the current geopolitical and security situation, with organisers and motorsport bodies coordinating on the move. Some reports specify that the organisers involved include Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) and the Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC), while others add that the FIA is also referenced in the explanation.
Across coverage, the common thread is relocation rather than cancellation, though at least one outlet frames it as part of a wider pattern of sporting events being rescheduled due to violence and regional conflict. While details on the precise rationale vary in wording, all accounts point to organisers’ inability to stage the rally in Saudi Arabia and to uncertainty over the final location.
