Dakar Rally organizers announced on Friday that the 2027 edition will be held exceptionally in Portugal and Morocco, after the race was moved from Saudi Arabia due to geopolitical developments in the Middle East, with plans to return to the Kingdom in 2028.
Organizers stated in a press release that the 49th edition of the rally will take place from January 9 to 23, 2027, starting with a preliminary stage followed by 12 stages between the cities of Loulé and Faro in Portugal and Marrakesh in Morocco.
The statement clarified that the decision was made in light of recent events in Saudi Arabia, noting that the race will serve as the opening round of the 2027 World Desert Rally Championship, organized by the FIA and the FIM.
It added that Portugal and Morocco agreed to host the event under the exceptional circumstances that forced the change of destination, considering this step as a reflection of solidarity within the rally sports community and the historical ties linking the race to both countries.
Portugal is scheduled to host the preliminary stage and the first stage, before participants move to the African continent starting January 11 to complete the competitions in Morocco.
The total rally route covers 7,824 kilometers, including 4,341 kilometers of special stages.
Organizers emphasized that Morocco possesses suitable conditions to host the race, thanks to its vast desert areas and experience in organizing international sporting events, as well as its ability to handle organizational challenges within a limited timeframe.
For his part, Dakar Rally director David Castera expressed appreciation for the competitors' commitment to participate despite the sudden change in the race's destination.
Castera stated that the number of registered participants has reached 350 so far, adding that the rally competitions will be broadcast to more than 190 countries.
Morocco hosting the next edition marks the return of the Dakar Rally to the African continent for the first time since 2008, after it left for security reasons and moved to South America between 2009 and 2019, before Saudi Arabia hosted its competitions since 2020.
The first edition of the rally launched in 1978, with its traditional route starting from the French capital Paris, passing through the Sahara Desert and stages in Morocco, reaching the Senegalese capital Dakar.
For decades, the race has become one of the most prominent and toughest endurance races in motorsport.
The Dakar Rally is expected to return to Saudi Arabia in 2028, coinciding with the 50th edition of the race.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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