Dakar Rally 2027 Could Take Place in Morocco
The 2027 edition of the Dakar Rally, originally slated to occur in Saudi Arabia from January 1 to January 15, 2027, is now facing significant changes due to escalating tensions in the region. Organizers issued a statement on October 25, announcing that the event would no longer be held in Saudi Arabia, citing recent events affecting the area. Since July, conflict between the Houthi forces in Yemen and Saudi Arabia has reignited, resulting in daily attacks that have reached the Kingdom, including its capital, Riyadh.
Despite this setback, the organizers have assured fans that the Dakar Rally will still proceed, albeit in a different location. They confirmed in their statement, "The Dakar 2027 will go ahead. The 2027 edition will take place in another territory and will be organized by A.S.O.," which has co-hosted the event with the Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC).
According to various media outlets, the most likely scenario involves the rally starting in Spain and finishing in Morocco, marking a historic return to Africa for the event, which has not taken place on the continent since 2007. However, details regarding the exact location of the 2027 Dakar Rally will be revealed in a separate announcement soon.
Security Concerns in the Middle East Impact Major Events
The last African edition of the Dakar Rally, originally planned in 2008 with a start in Portugal and a finish in Senegal, was canceled due to fears of terrorism. Following this, the rally transitioned to South America from 2009 to 2019, and since 2020, all editions have been held in Saudi Arabia. There are discussions about a potential return to Saudi Arabia for the 2028 edition, which will be a landmark 50th anniversary event.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has led to the cancellation of numerous sporting events this year. Notably, Formula 1 scrapped its Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah and the Bahrain Grand Prix in April, relocating the latter to Malaysia in early October. Additionally, the final round of the WRC championship scheduled to take place in Jeddah in November has also been canceled without a replacement.
As the situation evolves, the final two Formula 1 races of the season, set for Qatar (November 27-29) and Abu Dhabi (December 4-6), remain confirmed for now, but are under intense scrutiny.
As reported by lebrief.ma.
