Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 to begin on Saturday, Jan. 3

SPA

Riyadh, January 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 will begin on Saturday, January 3, as the Kingdom hosts the event for the seventh consecutive year under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, organised by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and marketed by Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC), according to the organisers.

Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal said the Kingdom’s hosting of the rally reflects support for the sports sector and the country’s logistical capabilities and national human resources.

This year’s edition features 812 competitors from 69 nationalities competing in more than 433 vehicles across six categories, covering 7,994 kilometres, including 4,840 kilometres of timed special stages, he said.

Chairman of the Board of SAMF and SMC Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdullah bin Faisal said the rally is among the major global sporting events hosted by the Kingdom in recent years, adding that this year’s edition will include new routes and updates, including two marathon stages.

The rally will start in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast, pass through AlUla, Hail, Riyadh, Wadi Ad-Dawasir, Bisha, and Al-Henakiyah, and conclude in Yanbu on Saturday, January 17. The route includes one prologue stage and 13 competitive stages, the statement said.

Saudi competitors Hamzah Bakhashab and Abdullah Alshegawi will participate in the SSV class, the statement added, noting both are graduates of the Saudi Next Gen programme in 2025.