The Amaury Sport Organisation and Saudi Motorsport Company released a statement on Saturday confirming the famous Dakar Rally will not take place in Saudi Arabia as planned.
The announcement of the Dakar Rally being relocated is a monumental decision that breaks a seven year streak for the region hosting the famous rally.
Citing “developments in the region”, the statement did not confirm the territory that will replace Saudi Arabia, leaving unanswered questions given the short time frame before the event is due to take place.
However, the statement did confirm that Dakar 2028 will go ahead as planned.
Full statement on Dakar Rally
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.
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