Dakar Rally moves to Portugal and Morocco for 2027

The Dakar Rally will move from Saudi Arabia to Portugal and Morocco for its 2027 edition, organisers announced October 30, 2026, shifting the event from its planned host amid regional conflict. The 49th edition is expected to begin in Portugal before competitors continue across Morocco. The rally is planned to cover nearly 8,000 kilometres over two weeks. Organisers have not provided a detailed route and schedule in both announcements, so some specifics remain based on a single account. Race director David Castera said organisers had assembled an event that would maintain the rally’s sporting standards despite the short preparation period. He said competitors would travel across Morocco and encounter the country’s varied features. Organisers said they intend to return the rally to Saudi Arabia in 2028 for its 50th edition. That plan follows the decision to relocate the 2027 event, which had been scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia. One published account said the rally would start with a prologue and first stage in Portugal, then continue with 11 stages and 4,341 kilometres of special stages in Morocco. Another described a route beginning at Algarve Stadium, with nine...