JAKARTA – With less than 30 days remaining, preparations are intensifying for the return of the legendary Dakar Rally to Saudi Arabia, marking the seventh straight year the Kingdom has hosted the prestigious endurance motorsport competition.

Scheduled to run from January 3-17, the event operates under Ministry of Sport oversight, with organizational responsibilities handled by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and promotional duties managed by Saudi Motorsport Company.

Innovative Route Design

The 2026 edition promises to stand apart from previous iterations through an entirely reimagined course that will showcase Saudi Arabia’s diverse topography, natural landscapes, and cultural heritage sites to international audiences.

Organizers have crafted fresh obstacles and terrain challenges designed to elevate competitive intensity across all stages, ensuring participants face demanding tests throughout the two-week rally.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, who chairs both the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and Saudi Motorsport Company, characterized the Dakar Rally as integral to the Kingdom’s broader ambition to establish itself as a premier global motorsport destination.

Historic Saudi Victory

The 2025 edition delivered a landmark achievement when Yazeed Al-Rajhi became the first Saudi national to capture the championship in the automobile category—a breakthrough that resonated throughout the Kingdom’s motorsport community.

Prince Khalid expressed collective pride in this accomplishment while voicing optimism for similar success in the upcoming competition. He particularly highlighted the increasing participation of Saudi drivers as evidence of effective talent cultivation programs and youth development initiatives.

Massive International Field

Next month’s rally will feature 812 competitors from 69 nations, piloting 433 vehicles across eight distinct categories: Ultimate B, Ultimate, Stock, Challenger, Side-by-Side, Trucks, motorcycles, and quad bikes.

The comprehensive route spans 7,999 kilometers total distance, incorporating 4,845 kilometers of timed competitive sections.

Stage-by-Stage Breakdown

Competition launches January 3 with a 23-kilometer prologue in Yanbu, followed by the first full stage January 4 covering 305 kilometers within the Yanbu region.

Subsequent stages progress through AlUla (January 5-7), transitioning through Marathon Camp before reaching Hail (January 8) and the capital Riyadh (January 9).

Competitors receive a rest day January 10 in Riyadh before resuming action through Wadi Al-Dawasir (January 11-12), another Marathon Camp segment (January 13), Bisha (January 14), and Al-Hanakiyah (January 15-16).

The rally concludes with a final 105-kilometer stage in Yanbu on January 17.

The event represents another milestone in Saudi Arabia’s expanding motorsport calendar and ongoing efforts to diversify its sports and entertainment offerings under national development objectives.

Original Article:

Arab News. (2025, December 5). Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 countdown begins ahead of Jan. 3 start.  Retrieved from https://www.arabnews.com/node/2625049/sport