The Dakar Rally, widely regarded as the world’s most grueling off-road endurance test, will not take place in Saudi Arabia next year. Organizers Amaury Sport Organisation and the Saudi Motorsport Company announced on Sunday that the January event has been relocated to an “unannounced territory” due to “recent developments in the region.” The decision marks a significant disruption to the rally’s schedule, which has been hosted by the Kingdom since 2020, with organizers confirming a planned return to Saudi Arabia in 2028.
Organizers shift 2025 event to undisclosed location, citing regional security risks.
This relocation is the latest in a growing trend of major sporting events abandoning Saudi Arabia amid escalating geopolitical tensions. The move follows a series of cancellations and postponements driven by the ongoing conflict involving Iran and deadly strikes by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. While the specific new venue remains under wraps, industry reports suggest Morocco is the leading candidate for the 2025 edition. A shift to Morocco would mark the first time the Dakar has been held in Africa since 2007, reviving its historical roots in the continent.
The Dakar’s history is deeply tied to African geography, having originally run from Paris to Senegal’s capital, Dakar. The event was abruptly canceled in 2008 due to security concerns in North Africa, prompting a decade-long stint in South America before moving to Saudi Arabia. If the rally does return to Africa, it will represent a symbolic homecoming for the competition, which has long been defined by its extreme desert and cross-continental challenges. Fans and competitors will now await the official venue announcement as the organizing committee navigates the complex security landscape of the Middle East.
Source: Yahoo Sports
