Dakar Rally 2027 moved from Saudi Arabia due to regional conflict

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 06:43 · Archive

The Dakar Rally 2027 has been moved out of Saudi Arabia due to safety concerns from regional violence.

The Amaury Sports Organisation confirmed on Sunday that the Dakar Rally 2027 would be relocated from Saudi Arabia due to security concerns arising from regional conflict. The off-road race, scheduled for January, will move to an unspecified location to be announced in the coming days. The 2028 edition will return to Saudi Arabia as planned for the event's 50th anniversary.

Saudi Arabia has hosted the rally since 2020. The move follows escalating violence in the region, including deadly attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group and bombings at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. Al Jazeera reports that Morocco or Spain are being considered as possible venues, with a move to Morocco marking the first time the Dakar has been held in Africa since 2007.

The Dakar Rally is the latest sporting event to be relocated due to regional instability. Other affected events include the tennis Six Kings Slam tournament, postponed from October to late December; the World Rally Championship's Saudi Arabia round, cancelled; and golf's Saudi International, postponed with no alternative date confirmed. Formula One's Jeddah grand prix was cancelled while the Bahrain race was rescheduled in Malaysia.

How it is being reported

• Dakar Rally 2027 moved out of Saudi Arabia amid conflict in Middle EastOrganisers of January's off-road race say it will be relocated due to recent developments in the region.Al Jazeera · 26 Oct, 06:29
• Dakar Rally 2027 latest sporting event to be moved outside Saudi Arabia due to conflictThe Rally is the latest sporting event to be cancelled or rescheduled as a result of violence in the regionIndependent Sport · 25 Oct, 15:20

In this story: Dakar Rally · Saudi Arabia · Amaury Sports Organisation · Houthi · Morocco · Spain

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem