Dakar Rally 2027 moved out of Saudi Arabia amid Middle East conflict

The 2027 Dakar Rally, scheduled for January, will not take place in Saudi Arabia because of recent developments in the region, the Amaury Sport Organisation and Saudi Motorsport Company announced. Organisers will reveal a new location in the coming days and plan to return to Saudi Arabia in 2028 for the event’s 50th edition. Morocco and Spain are reportedly under consideration; a Moroccan route would bring the rally back to Africa for the first time since 2007. Other sporting events have also been moved or cancelled this year amid the US-Israel war on Iran and Houthi attacks from Yemen.