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Ricky Brabec on the Honda at the 2026 Dakar Rally in a desert landscape in Saudi Arabia

Dakar 2027: ASO Email to Riders Leaves the Route Open

Published by Thomas Menzel on 17. October 2026

Series: Dakar 2027

On 14 October 2026, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) sent an information note by email to the participants of the 2027 Dakar Rally. It concerns the situation in Saudi Arabia. The message does not announce a route change, a move to the north or a switch to Morocco. Those scenarios come from media reports citing sources in the paddock. Officially, the event remains scheduled for 1 to 15 January 2027, with start and finish in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) on the Red Sea.

What the note says

The Argentine website Somos Dakar published the full text of the version sent to Spanish-speaking participants on 14 October. It is signed by Dakar director David Castera and Charles Cuypers, who is responsible for competitors. Translated from Spanish, it reads:

“Dear participants, we wish to inform you that the organisation has duly taken into account the recent events in Saudi Arabia. The Dakar team is closely following developments in the situation in cooperation with its Saudi partners, in order to have all the necessary information for the 2027 edition. We will keep you updated as soon as possible.”

The published text contains no assessment that the planned route is too dangerous. Somos Dakar itself writes that the proximity of the targets of the attacks to the route would force a change. The site also reports the idea of a much more northerly route only as something that has been “leaked”, and describes a replacement date in Morocco as growing speculation.

Background: attacks near the planned route

The trigger is the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. As the news agency Reuters reported on 8 October (published by The Straits Times), the Houthis said that week that they had attacked targets in Saudi Arabia, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and an Aramco refinery. According to Reuters, the refinery is around 50 kilometres from KAEC. The World Rally Championship has cancelled its season finale in Saudi Arabia, planned for November, for security reasons.

The ASO presented the original route in Paris on 5 May 2026: a loop starting and finishing in KAEC, with three new stages in the Red Sea region and 5,320 kilometres of special stages, which according to the organiser is more than in any edition since the move to Saudi Arabia in 2020. According to a compilation by motorcycles.news dated 12 October, it was due to pass through Al-Ula, Ha’il, Al-Duwadimi, Bisha, Wadi Ad-Dawasir and Al Bahah, among other places. Some of the southern stages are therefore in the same region as targets of the attacks.

Ricky Brabec on the Honda during the second stage of the 2026 Dakar Rally between Yanbu and Al-Ula
Archive photo: Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda HRC) on the second stage of the 2026 Dakar on 5 January 2026 between Yanbu and Al-Ula. Photographer not named. Source: motorcycles.news

Plan A and Plan B: what is being reported

The ASO has confirmed neither scenario. The details come from several media reports over the past two weeks.

Marca reported on 3 October that the ASO had presented teams with two options at the Rallye du Maroc in Zagora. The first: the Dakar stays in Saudi Arabia, but the route is kept north of Riyadh to keep a distance from the border with Yemen, with few bivouacs along the lines of the Morocco rally. According to Marca, this option is to be kept open until the vehicles are shipped at the end of November, with the original dates retained. On 8 October, Reuters, citing two riders and a team member from the World Rally-Raid Championship, also reported a new route in the north of the kingdom with fewer bivouacs. The ASO, FIA and FIM did not initially respond to Reuters.

According to Marca, the second option is a rally in Morocco shortened to eight days, starting around 8 January. Spanish broadcaster RTVE added on 17 October, citing sources familiar with the talks: a prologue on the Iberian Peninsula is planned for 8 January, followed by eight stages in Morocco. According to TVE journalist Paco Grande, implementation also depends on the name. The Saudi side is refusing to let the ASO have the “Dakar” brand if the rally leaves the country. A name such as “Dakar Series” is being discussed as a possible alternative. The sources quoted by RTVE expect a decision shortly.

Marc Coma on a KTM during a stage of the 2007 Dakar Rally in Morocco
Archive photo: Marc Coma on a stage of the 2007 Dakar, according to RTVE the last time the rally was run in Morocco. Photo: EFE/Eric Vargiolu. Source: RTVE

The ASO had already rejected rumours of a complete cancellation in September. According to motorcycles.news, the organiser said at the time that they were “unfounded” and that preparations were on schedule.

The next deadlines

According to the official competitors’ calendar, registration closes on 20 October 2026. Scrutineering and shipping of the vehicles in Europe are scheduled for 27 and 28 November, and vehicle handover in Saudi Arabia for 28 December. Teams will therefore need to know where their equipment is going by the time of loading at the end of November. Whether the ASO will confirm a changed route, a different venue or the original plan beforehand remains open.

Sources and image credits

Published inAllgemein