Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 begins with prologue stage in Yanbu

SPA

Yanbu, January 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia 2026 kicked off on Saturday with the prologue stage, marking the Kingdom’s seventh consecutive hosting of the event, according to a statement on the opening day.

The rally is organised by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and supervised by the Ministry of Sport, the statement said.

The prologue stage featured a 95-kilometre route in Yanbu Governorate, including a 22-kilometre special stage, designed to test the readiness of drivers and vehicles and determine the starting order for the upcoming stages.

A total of 787 drivers and co-drivers participated across seven categories — cars, motorcycles, Challenger, SSV and trucks — as well as 97 vehicles competing in the Dakar Classic and Mission 1000 categories, the statement said.

The first official stage will begin on Sunday as a loop stage starting and ending in Yanbu Governorate, covering 518 kilometres, including 305 kilometres of timed special stage, according to the statement.