The Dakar Rally is set to become even tougher in 2027, with organisers unveiling the longest Saudi Arabian route in the event’s history and promising more sand, more variety and greater endurance demands than ever before.
The 49th edition of the Dakar Rally and the eighth held in Saudi Arabia will run from January 1–15, with the entire event built around a giant loop beginning and ending in King Abdullah Economic City on the Red Sea coast.
While the route map may initially appear more compact than previous years, organisers confirmed the 2027 edition will feature a massive 5320km of timed special stages comfortably surpassing the previous Saudi-era record of 4903km set in 2025.
The increased special stage mileage means competitors will spend more time racing against the clock than at any other Dakar since the rally relocated to Saudi Arabia in 2020.
Dakar organisers say the terrain itself will also be significantly more varied, with constantly changing conditions expected across stages and even within the same stage. Riders and crews will face shifting technical demands throughout the rally, placing even greater emphasis on adaptability and machine management.
A major talking point for 2027 is the increased amount of sand incorporated into the route. Organisers confirmed there will be considerably less rocky terrain compared to recent editions, with dunes and soft sand expected to play a much larger role across the event.
The rally will also include both a bivouac-refuge night and a traditional marathon stage, reinforcing Dakar’s reputation as one of the harshest endurance events in world motorsport.
The marathon stage format forces competitors to maintain and repair their own machines without full factory team assistance, placing enormous pressure on reliability and rider endurance deep into the rally.
King Abdullah Economic City will again serve as the central hub of the event, hosting scrutineering, the opening bivouac and the rally finish.
Built around one of the largest trading ports on the Red Sea, the rapidly developing city has become a major base for Dakar operations in Saudi Arabia and will host what organisers describe as an “XXL bivouac” for competitors and teams.
The Dakar Rally remains the biggest event in rally raid competition, attracting factory teams and privateers from around the world across motorcycle, car, truck and SSV categories each January.
