Saudi Arabia to host Dakar Rally 2026 for seventh consecutive year

SPA

RIYADH, Dec. 29 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the Dakar Rally 2026 on January 3 for the seventh consecutive year, marking the opening round of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, with wide international participation reflecting the Kingdom’s growing profile as a global motorsports destination.

The rally will feature around 433 vehicles, with approximately 812 competitors representing 69 nationalities. The new route will start from the Red Sea coast and traverse diverse terrains across Saudi Arabia, including sand dunes, open deserts, mountain heights, vast plains and coastal areas, presenting varied technical and endurance challenges.

The Dakar Classic category will include 97 historic vehicles, comprising 75 cars and 22 trucks dating from the 1980s and 1990s up to 2005. A total of 211 competitors from 26 nationalities, including 18 women, will take part in the Classic division.

The 4,292-kilometre Dakar Classic route will place an emphasis on consistency and endurance rather than speed, testing competitors’ ability to maintain performance over extended distances.

Organizers said the Dakar Rally 2026 route reflects the event’s heritage, with each region offering distinct technical demands and pace requirements over two weeks of competition.