The 2027 Dakar Rally will take place in Portugal and Morocco after organisers withdrew Saudi Arabia as host country, citing security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The decision was announced by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), five days after it confirmed that the prestigious motorsport event would not be held in Saudi Arabia as initially planned.

Under the revised arrangement, Portugal will host the rally’s prologue and opening stage in the Algarve region, while Morocco will stage 11 competitive stages and a rest day in Agadir.

The 49th edition of the rally is now expected to run from January 9 to 23, 2027, subject to approval by the International Automobile Federation (FIA)’s World Motor Sport Council.

Organisers said the revised route will cover 7,824 kilometres, including 4,341 kilometres of special stages, connecting Loule-Faro in Portugal to Marrakesh in Morocco.

Dakar Rally director David Castera said the organisers had worked within a limited timeframe to prepare a route that maintains the competition’s demanding sporting standards.

ASO described the relocation as an “exceptional and one-off” decision, adding that the event is expected to return to Saudi Arabia for its 50th edition in 2028. The kingdom has hosted the rally since 2020.

Morocco’s involvement marks the Dakar Rally’s return to Africa for the first time since 2008, bringing the competition back to a continent closely associated with its history.

First held in 1978, the rally originally followed a route from Paris across the Sahara Desert to Dakar, Senegal. It later moved to South America from 2009 to 2019 before establishing its base in Saudi Arabia.

The 2027 relocation highlights how regional security developments can affect major international sporting events, while restoring Morocco’s place on the rally’s historic route.

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