RIYADH: The Dakar Rally returns to Saudi Arabia for the seventh consecutive edition from Jan. 3-17, bringing with it one of the most demanding and wide-ranging routes since the first such event in the Kingdom.
For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
Held under the supervision of the ministry of sport, organised by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, and promoted by the Saudi Motorsport Company, this year the race elevates the rally’s challenges, drawing competitors into a course through some of the country’s most iconic and challenging landscapes.
With a total distance of 7,999 kilometres, including 4,845 kilometres of timed special stages, the 2026 route almost matches the longest competitive distance of the rally’s Saudi era. It takes competitors through some of the Kingdom’s most varied landscapes, from the Red Sea coast to the deep desert and back again.
Fewer bivouacs mean teams arrive to better-rested support crews, while redesigned marathon stages help shape the rhythm of the event. Intense days are balanced with recovery opportunities around the rest day, creating a course defined by challenge and deliberate pacing.
