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Dakar Rally 2027 to Shift to Portugal and Morocco After Saudi Arabia Withdrawal

By Reuters

The 49th edition of the Dakar Rally, originally scheduled to run from January 1 to January 15, will now take place from January 9 to January 23, pending approval by the International Automobile Federation’s World Motor Sport Council. Organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) said the event will be held in Morocco, following a prologue and first stage in Portugal. The Algarve will host the prologue and the first special stage, while Morocco will host 11 stages and a rest day in Agadir, exploring the country from north to far south. ASO described the move as ‘exceptional and one‑off’ and said the relocated rally will meet the sporting standards that have always made it the most demanding rally‑raid event. Dakar director David Castera added that, despite the short timeframe, a true Dakar has been designed. The 2027 rally will cover a total distance of 7,824 km (4,862 miles), including 4,341 km (2,697 miles) of special stages, from Loule‑Faro to Marrakesh. The 50th edition in 2028 is expected to return to Saudi Arabia, which has hosted the event since 2020. Morocco hosting the race means the Dakar Rally will return to Africa for the first time since 2008. The rally began in 1978 as a race from Paris across the Sahara to Dakar, Senegal, and has long been regarded as the world’s toughest motorsport challenge. It was later staged in South America between 2009 and 2019 after leaving Africa for security reasons.