The Dakar Rally is officially returning to Africa in 2027, with Morocco and Portugal confirmed as the new hosts of its 49th edition after organisers relocated the event from Saudi Arabia due to regional security concerns.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) announced on 30 October that the rally will take place from 9 to 23 January 2027, subject to final approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. The event was originally scheduled to run from 1 to 15 January in Saudi Arabia, which has hosted the competition since 2020.
The decision follows an earlier joint announcement by Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) and Saudi Motorsport Company confirming that the 2027 edition would not take place in the Kingdom following recent developments in the region. Organisers described the relocation as a one-off decision, with Saudi Arabia expected to welcome the rally back in 2028 for its 50th edition.
What to Expect From Dakar Rally 2027
The 2027 edition will cover a total distance of 7,824 kilometres, including 4,341 kilometres of competitive special stages.
The rally will begin in Loulé-Faro, Portugal, with a prologue on 9 January followed by the first special stage on 10 January. Competitors will then cross the Mediterranean to Morocco, where the remaining 11 stages will take place.
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The Moroccan route will take competitors through Bouarfa, Zagora and Agadir, where a rest day is scheduled, before heading south towards Smara and Dakhla. The rally will then travel north along the Atlantic coast, finishing in Marrakech on 23 January.
The event will also serve as the opening round of the 2027 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship.
A Return to African Roots
The announcement marks a significant return for the Dakar Rally, which last took place on African soil in 2007. The competition’s original routes connected Europe with West Africa, including the Senegalese capital from which it takes its name.
Following the cancellation of the 2008 edition over security concerns, the rally moved to South America, where it was held from 2009 to 2019, before relocating to Saudi Arabia in 2020.
With Morocco now preparing to host the majority of the 2027 competition, the Dakar Rally is set to reconnect with its African history while introducing competitors to a challenging route across the country’s diverse landscapes.
