The Dakar Rally will move its 2027 edition to Portugal and Morocco, organizers announced Friday, citing security risks from Houthi attacks in the Gulf region. The decision marks a significant shift for the world's most grueling off-road endurance race, which has been held in Saudi Arabia since 2020.
According to an AFP report dated October 30, 2026, the relocation comes in response to escalating maritime threats posed by Houthi militants in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which have disrupted global shipping routes and raised safety concerns for event logistics and participants.
The new route will traverse Portuguese and Moroccan terrain, offering a return to African soil for the rally after its South American era (2009–2019) and recent Middle Eastern chapter. Organizers have not yet released detailed stage maps or dates for the 2027 event.
