Riyadh: The Dakar Rally could return to Africa in 2027 after several years in Saudi Arabia, with Morocco reportedly emerging as the main destination for the prestigious off-road motorsport event amid growing security concerns in the Middle East.
According to a Reuters report citing two drivers and a team manager involved in the World Rally-Raid Championship, organisers are considering a revised route that would begin in Europe before moving to Morocco for the remainder of the competition.
The proposed plan reportedly includes a prologue in either Spain or Portugal, followed by around 12 stages across Morocco. The 49th edition of the rally is scheduled to take place from January 9 to 22, 2027, although the reported route change has yet to receive official confirmation.
Race organiser Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) had not immediately responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Security Concerns Prompt Route Reassessment
The reported change comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which has intensified attacks targeting Saudi cities and critical infrastructure.
ASO had unveiled the original route in May, with King Abdullah Economic City designated as the start and finish location. However, according to sources cited by Reuters, organisers subsequently explored an alternative route in northern Saudi Arabia before reassessing their plans further.
The deteriorating security situation has reportedly prompted organisers to consider moving the event away from the kingdom for the 2027 edition.
The Dakar Rally has been held in Saudi Arabia since 2020, making the proposed relocation a significant change for one of the world’s most demanding motorsport competitions.
Dakar Rally’s African Roots
First held in 1978, the Dakar Rally originally began in Paris and crossed challenging terrain towards Dakar, the capital of Senegal. The event earned a global reputation for testing competitors’ endurance, navigation and mechanical reliability across some of the world’s toughest landscapes.
Security concerns forced the rally to leave Africa after the 2008 edition. The competition subsequently moved to South America, where it was staged from 2009 to 2019, before relocating to Saudi Arabia in 2020.
A return to Morocco would bring the rally back to African terrain, where desert routes and demanding off-road conditions have long formed an important part of its identity.
Major Route Change Expected for 2027 Edition
The 2027 event was initially planned to feature a record 5,320 kilometres of timed special stages, with the competition scheduled to run from January 1 to January 15 under the original programme.
The revised dates and proposed European and Moroccan route would represent a substantial change to those plans.
However, the reported relocation remains subject to official confirmation from the organisers. Until an announcement is made, the final route, stage locations and competition format for the 2027 Dakar Rally remain uncertain.
If confirmed, the move would mark another major geographical shift in the history of the Dakar Rally, taking the event back to Africa after its extended periods in South America and Saudi Arabia.
