As of 3 October 2026, morning.
Can the 2027 Dakar take place in Saudi Arabia? The question now concerns far more than route planning. Security concerns, the deployment of staff and international logistics could decide whether the race can go ahead. Cancellation is a scenario to be taken seriously. However, the sources reviewed for this article contain no official cancellation of the 2027 Dakar.
What is official – and what the assurances so far are worth
The official Dakar website still gives the dates as 1 to 15 January 2027. The route presented in May has the start and finish in King Abdullah Economic City. This documents the published event schedule, but it is no guarantee against later changes. Source: Dakar/ASO.
TimeOut Racing published a written ASO reply dated 15 September, according to its own account: the organisation rejected the cancellation rumours circulating at the time and stated that it would continue preparations with its Saudi partners. The statement has to be put in its time context: it describes the situation then and is no substitute for a current assessment after the talks in early October. Source: TimeOut Racing.
original photograph from Honda’s Stage 4 gallery for the Rallye du Maroc,
published on 2 October 2026. The picture does not document any
decision on whether the 2027 Dakar will go ahead.
Photo: © Honda Racing Corporation.
Image source: Honda Racing, Stage 4.
Security talks: factory teams become the key factor
The Spanish newspaper AS reported on 1 October that ASO had planned talks with participants in Morocco on 2 and 3 October. Additional security and route adjustments were reportedly to be discussed. FIM President Jorge Viegas pointed to outstanding guarantees and operational travel requirements in comments to the outlet. Toyota and KTM are named as particularly sensitive cases. This is a media report on conditions for participation, not an official withdrawal statement by these manufacturers that has been verified here. Source: AS.
A published final communiqué from these talks was not available in the sources reviewed at the time of research. Accordingly, neither a binding agreement nor a failure of the negotiations can be established.
Why a changed route alone is not enough
AutoSport Portugal names four problem areas: protection of those involved, insurance, company-internal travel restrictions and transport. The challenge therefore extends beyond riders and vehicles. Mechanics, service providers and other staff must also be able to travel and work on site. Source: AutoSport Portugal.
Editorial assessment: A sporting course that is suitable does not yet answer whether a company can send its employees or whether the entire supply chain works. Conversely, the withdrawal of a single team would not automatically mean cancellation. A combination of missing approvals, restricted transport and inadequate protection would be critical. Which of these conditions is currently not being met cannot be fully verified publicly.
original photograph from Honda’s Stage 4 gallery for the Rallye du Maroc,
published on 2 October 2026. The picture does not document any
decision on whether the 2027 Dakar will go ahead.
Photo: © Honda Racing Corporation.
Image source: Honda Racing, Stage 4.
The WRC example shows concrete consequences of regional uncertainty
A reliable warning sign comes from the FIA: on 17 September, the governing body and the WRC promoter announced that the Saudi round will not be part of the 2026 World Rally Championship. They cited regional uncertainty and its effects on logistics. At the same time, the event is said to take place from 11 to 14 November as a round of the Middle East Rally Championship. Source: FIA.
The distinction is crucial: this is not a blanket halt to motorsport in Saudi Arabia. Rather, the case shows that different event scopes can lead to different decisions. For the Dakar this is a relevant comparison, but no proof that a decision to cancel has already been made.
An alternative venue would not be a short-notice substitute
AutoSport Portugal describes Morocco and an Iberian-Moroccan variant as alternatives under discussion, not as a confirmed ASO plan. A switch would require new routes, permits, bivouacs, medical facilities and transport arrangements. No secure replacement event can be derived from this. Source: AutoSport Portugal.
The official competitors’ calendar gives 20 October as the entry deadline and 27 and 28 November for European scrutineering and vehicle shipping. These are important planning steps, not a publicly declared cancellation deadline. Source: Dakar competitors’ calendar.
What information is missing now
- A current, binding ASO status following the talks in Morocco.
- Public participation decisions by the factory teams concerned.
- Concrete details on possible route changes and on how transport will be carried out.
- An official decision, should the date or venue be changed.
Our assessment: The question “Dakar in danger?” is justified given the documented uncertainty. “Dakar cancelled”, by contrast, is not supported by the state of research. There is no reliable basis for decision-making that would allow a serious percentage figure for the risk of cancellation. What matters now is whether the announced event can be secured organisationally and whether the companies involved approve their participation.
Sources and image credits
The sources are linked to the respective statements. The basis is the official Dakar website and the competitors’ calendar, the FIA announcement of 17 September, the ASO correspondence published by TimeOut Racing, and the articles by AS and AutoSport Portugal, which are expressly identified as media reports. Both article images come from the official Honda report on the fourth stage of the Rallye du Maroc, published on 2 October 2026, and are embedded directly via image link. Image credit: © Honda Racing Corporation. Image provider’s notes on usage.