Dakar Rally Leaves Saudi for 2027, Returns in 2028

Two major sporting changes are set to reshape Saudi Arabia's motorsport and multi-sport calendar: the 2027 Dakar Rally will move away from the Kingdom, and the Riyadh Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games have been pushed to 2027.

the 2027 edition of the Dakar Rally will take place in a different territory rather than in Saudi Arabia. The off-road endurance event is expected to return to the Kingdom in 2028.

The move follows the 2026 Dakar Rally, which was staged across Saudi Arabia from 3 to 17 January 2026. That edition started and finished in Yanbu and featured a rest day in Riyadh, continuing the rally's recent run of hosting its stages across Saudi terrain.

Asian Games postponed to 2027

Separately, the Riyadh Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, originally planned for December 2026, have been rescheduled. The event will now be held from 28 March to 8 April 2027.

For residents and visitors in the capital, the revised dates give fans a clearer window to plan around what will be one of Riyadh's largest multi-sport gatherings. The temporary absence of Dakar in 2027, meanwhile, is balanced by its confirmed return the following year, keeping Saudi Arabia on the global motorsport map.

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