Dakar leaves Saudi Arabia in 2027 and may move to Portugal and Morocco

The Dakar Rally will temporarily leave Saudi Arabia in 2027, potentially relocating to Portugal and Morocco, with a return planned for 2028. This decision follows regional developments related to conflicts involving the Houthis in Yemen. The Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) confirmed that the 2027 edition will take place in a different territory, with details to be announced soon. The Algarve may host the start, marking a return to Portugal after the 2008 cancellation. The rally has shifted locations multiple times since its inception in 1979, originally connecting Paris to Dakar, Senegal.