The 2027 Dakar Rally will not take place in Saudi Arabia. The FIA confirmed the decision on 25 October, announcing that the famous rally-raid event will move to another country because of recent developments in the Middle East. The new host nation has yet to be officially identified, but the decision is already raising questions about Formula 1’s plans to hold its final two Grands Prix of the 2026 season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The Dakar Rally is still scheduled to take place from 1 to 15 January 2027, with organisers confirming that the event will go ahead as planned at a different location. The replacement venue is expected to be announced in the coming days, bringing an exceptional change to one of the world’s best-known motorsport competitions.
Why Dakar 2027 is leaving Saudi Arabia
The decision to relocate the 2027 Dakar Rally was taken jointly by Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) and Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC), in coordination with the Saudi automobile federation and with the support of both the FIA and the FIM.
According to the organisers, the move is an exceptional measure that applies only to the upcoming edition. The event is expected to return to Saudi Arabia in 2028 for its 50th edition, following seven consecutive editions held in the Kingdom since 2020.
The change therefore does not signal a permanent departure from Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, the decision to move such a prominent international motorsport event because of developments in the region inevitably raises wider questions about how sporting organisations are assessing the situation.
What does the Dakar decision mean for Formula 1 in Qatar and Abu Dhabi?
The relocation also draws attention to Formula 1, particularly because the championship’s final two rounds of 2026 are scheduled to take place in the Middle East. Formula 1 officials recently confirmed their intention to proceed with both races despite concerns surrounding the geopolitical situation and regional security.
Under the current 2026 Formula 1 calendar, the Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina remain scheduled as the championship’s final two events.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has recently maintained that the necessary conditions are in place for the races to proceed. However, some drivers, including Carlos Sainz, have expressed doubts about whether the two events should remain on the calendar under the circumstances.
Different countries, different decisions and questions about safety
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates face different circumstances, and the decision to relocate the Dakar Rally, which is scheduled for January, does not automatically mean that either Formula 1 Grand Prix is at risk. The situation surrounding each event must therefore be considered separately.
Even so, the decision sends a significant signal. A major international competition operating under the same FIA umbrella has considered it necessary to change its plans because of the regional situation, while Formula 1 continues to maintain that its remaining Middle Eastern races can proceed.
That contrast raises legitimate questions about the assessments behind these different conclusions and, above all, the specific safety guarantees provided to the teams, drivers and personnel involved.
Safety should never become a matter of commercial convenience, nor should institutional reassurances replace a transparent assessment of the risks. With the Dakar Rally adopting an exceptional change of venue and Formula 1 continuing with its existing plans, the reasoning behind these different approaches deserves careful consideration.
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