Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 to begin in Yanbu

JEDDAH: The seventh edition of the Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia will take place from Jan. 3–17, 2026, with more than 800 participants set to compete.

The announcement was made on Thursday night during a press conference at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, attended by Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company.

Also in attendance was Yann Le Moenner, CEO of Amaury Sport Organization; David Castera, director of the Dakar Rally; as well as senior representatives from the Ministry of Sport and event partners.

In his opening remarks, Prince Khalid said: “Every edition of Dakar in Saudi Arabia tells a new story of ambition, excellence, and pride. The 2026 route showcases the Kingdom’s natural beauty in unexplored ways, from the dunes to the mountains, reaffirming our role as the modern home of Dakar. Each year, we go beyond hosting the world’s toughest rally; we redefine what it means to experience it.”

This year’s rally will feature 812 competitors, including 39 women, representing 69 nationalities, and competing across 433 vehicles in various categories. The race will begin on Jan. 3 in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast, and will cover 7,994 km, including 4,840 km of competitive special stages.

The rally route highlights the Kingdom’s extraordinary natural diversity, passing through AlUla, Hail, Riyadh, Wadi Al-Dawasir, Bisha, and Al-Hanakiyah, before returning to Yanbu on Jan. 17.

The race will feature one prologue and 13 special stages across 14 days of competition. The full route is:

Jan. 3: Prologue: Yanbu to Yanbu (98 km; SS 23 km)
Jan. 4: Stage 1: Yanbu to Yanbu (518 km; SS 305 km)
Jan. 5: Stage 2: Yanbu to AlUla (504 km; SS 400