Dakar 2027: Relocated from Saudi Arabia to Portugal and Morocco

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Dakar 2027: Relocated from Saudi Arabia to Portugal and Morocco.

The Dakar 2027 will be held from January 9 to 23, exceptionally in Portugal and Morocco. For fans of the car and motorcycle rally, this means not only a change of venue, but also an entirely new undertaking at short notice. The organizers had to adapt their event to two countries and a route from Portugal to Morocco.

The organizational requirements show that a rally like the Dakar cannot simply be moved to another location. With the race planned for Saudi Arabia now canceled, bookings, route planning and the logistical implementation in the two countries across two continents must all be put in place.

Why the Dakar 2027 will not take place in Saudi Arabia

As Ouest-France Sport reports, the A.S.O. initially abandoned the event in Saudi Arabia. The report cites the geopolitical context in the Middle East as the reason. The rally was subsequently relocated to Portugal and Morocco for January 2027.

The organizers’ announcement was made on Friday, October 30, 2026. This is an exceptional format: Normally, the Dakar starts and finishes in Saudi Arabia. The current decision was only announced after the cancellation of the originally scheduled event.

The decisive factor

For fans, it is not just the country that changes. The Dakar 2027 is due to begin in Portugal and end in Morocco. The event is therefore not returning to its traditional start and finish location, but is being designed around a route between Portugal and Morocco lasting 15 calendar days.

The organizational stress test: Two countries in a short space of time

L’Équipe follows the planning from the perspective of Dakar director David Castera. He describes the challenge as enormous, but also exciting. Following the cancellation in Saudi Arabia, the A.S.O. team would have to organize the new edition at short notice.

“The challenge is colossal, but exciting.”

The two reports complement each other: Ouest-France Sport explains the geopolitical reason and the exceptional switch between countries, while L’Équipe provides the specific dates from January 9 to 23 and Castera’s assessment of the organizational task. L’Équipe refers to organizing the event in two months.

Why the schedule appears particularly tight

According to the dates provided, barely two and a half months separate the announcement on October 30, 2026, from the planned start on January 9. Against this backdrop, it is understandable why Castera considers the planning a colossal task. Although the sources cited provide the overall period, they do not include details on individual stages or the exact route.

What the relocation means for you as a Dakar fan

The clearest change is the new host region. If you wanted to attend the event in Saudi Arabia as originally announced, you now need to look to Portugal or Morocco as your destination. The two countries represent more than just locations on the map: The event begins in Portugal and ends in Morocco.

At the same time, the planning itself is the biggest source of uncertainty. According to the reports, the organizers are in a race against time: The team must adapt the logistical implementation to the new route, while the original host route has already been abandoned. Neither source reveals how or whether this will affect individual classifications or the running of the race.

What is already certain

• Dates: January 9 to 23, 2027
• Location: Portugal and Morocco
• Disciplines: Car and motorcycle rally raid
• Reason for the change: Cancellation of the event in Saudi Arabia due to the geopolitical context in the Middle East
• Announcement: Friday, October 30, 2026

An unusual Dakar with open questions

The Dakar 2027 is special not only because of its sporting challenge, but also because of how it came about: The new planning began only after the original event had already been canceled. This makes the Portugal and Morocco edition a major organizational test for the A.S.O.

The new date is firmly established. The available information remains limited regarding individual stages, routes and the concrete organization. For everyone preparing for a new plan, this is the current status: Portugal, Morocco, January 9 to 23, 2027.

More for you

You can find more background and the original reports here:

• Ouest-France Sport: Dakar 2027 in Portugal and Morocco
• L’Équipe: David Castera on the organization of the Dakar 2027

Good luck with planning your Dakar trip — and watch out for the new route.