The route of the 2027 Dakar Rally has long been clear. The race is to be held between January 1 and January 15, in the western part of Saudi Arabia, with all logistics taking place across the Red Sea.
The organizers continue to confirm that there are no problems for the 2027 race, but with each passing day, security in Saudi Arabia is becoming more and more questionable.
This is one of the largest races in the world, involving very difficult logistics and enormous resources. However, the insecurity in Saudi Arabia is starting to affect the race now. Instead of calming down, the US war against Iran is gaining momentum. Without going into details, but the war in the Persian Gulf has a high chance of escalating, which will inevitably include Saudi Arabia.

Is it possible to repeat Dakar 2008?

A similar incident has already occurred in the history of the race. In 2008, the Dakar Rally was cancelled just a day before the start due to serious security concerns on the route in Mauritania, following warnings of possible terrorist attacks. This remains the only time the race has been cancelled entirely for security reasons.

There is currently no public information about specific threats directed at the organizers, teams or competitors of the 2027 Dakar Rally. However, if the region remains affected by military action or restrictions on air and sea transport are introduced by the beginning of 2027, this could make it difficult to organize and hold the race.

So far, the organizers have not announced a backup option or alternative host country. On the contrary, ASO’s long-term strategy envisages expanding the route to other countries in the region, including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, if security conditions allow.

In the coming months, the development of the political and military situation in the Middle East will likely be one of the factors that will be closely monitored by both the organizers, teams and fans of the toughest off-road race in the world.