Portugal and Morocco have been selected to host the upcoming edition of the Dakar Rally after Saudi Arabia was ruled out as the host nation. The announcement was made on October 30, 2026, marking a significant shift for the world's most famous rally raid event.
The Dakar Rally, which has been held in Saudi Arabia since 2020, will move to the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa for its next iteration. A file photo from the 2023 edition shows Spanish driver Carlos Sainz competing during a stage from Riyadh to Haradh, highlighting the event's recent Middle Eastern chapter.
