At the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, Amaury Sport Organisation yesterday presented the route for the 49th edition of the Dakar Rally. Race director David Castera unveiled an edition that goes further in every respect than previous years in Saudi Arabia: 8,390 kilometres in total, of which 5,320 kilometres of special stages. That is by some margin the highest competitive mileage since the rally moved to the Kingdom in 2020. The previous high stems from 2025, when the counter stopped at 4,903 km.
From 1 to 15 January 2027, the caravan will travel in a large loop through the country, with start and finish at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) on the Red Sea, around 100 kilometres north of Jeddah. Scrutineering will take place from 29 to 31 December.
Castera aims for tension until the very last metre
For Castera, the 2026 edition — in which the motorbike class was ultimately decided by just two seconds and the cars by barely ten minutes — served as the blueprint for what he wants to achieve in 2027. Unpredictability until the final stage, that is the guiding thread. “We wanted a longer Dakar,” he said during the presentation, summarising his design philosophy. “That is why we increased the length and the difficulty. The second stage is almost 500 kilometres, an incredible stage. I think the last three or four days will give us that intensity which keeps the suspense alive until the end.”
A notable shift is the deliberate change in terrain. Where the 2026 edition was largely defined by endless rocks and a string of punctures, in 2027 the focus moves clearly back to sand. Castera promised “considerably more” dune sections, without sinking into the monotony of the Empty Quarter. Instead, the organisation has opted for mixed stages where dunes and faster tracks alternate, particularly around Bisha. “We have mixed all surfaces within a single stage,” the race director added.
The route in brief
The rally opens on 1 January with a 30-kilometre prologue around KAEC. A new venue for the Dakar, where, according to the organisation, time differences may well be measured in seconds or minutes. The field will then move via Yanbu (stage 1, 350 km) and AlUla (stage 2, 310 km) to the north, where two stages await in Hail, including a 380-kilometre loop that Castera describes as the first true test of endurance.
From stage 5 onwards, the route heads south towards Al Duwadimi, before the first marathon stage on 7 and 8 January, played out in a special ‘marathon refuge’ between Al Duwadimi and Bisha. No luxury, no team support. Just a tent, a sleeping bag and a meal pack. The rest day on 9 January in Bisha brings relief, before the competitors head into a punishing second week.
That second week features a loop around Bisha (stage 8, 460 km), a fast day to Wadi Ad-Dawasir, and the longest special stage of the rally on 12 January with 515 kilometres between Wadi Ad-Dawasir and Bisha. Then comes a second marathon block, this time heading towards Al Bahah in volcanic terrain that can shred tyres in no time. After a final long day of 455 kilometres back to the coast at KAEC, the rally concludes on 15 January with a short 50-kilometre stage around KAEC, where the final standings will be sealed.
Marathon on a knife’s edge
A striking choice by the organisation is the placement of the second marathon stage in the closing phase of the rally. Not just removing comfort early in the schedule, but doing so at a moment when both riders and machines are already heavily worn down. Luciano Benavides, who won the motorbike class in 2026, supports the format. “It will be a longer Dakar and I really like that,” the Argentine reacted at the presentation. “I also like the format with two marathon stages, and having the second marathon at the end of the race will make it even more interesting. There will be less information, less strategy, which can make the race even more exciting.”
Voices from the field
Dutch truck driver Mitchel van den Brink looked back with mixed feelings on 2026, when his hopes of overall victory evaporated late in the rally due to a technical issue, after three consecutive podium finishes. “When I look at these stages, I really like the scenery, to be honest,” Van den Brink said. “Being in a truck offers great visibility, and I really enjoy this type of terrain. We feel like there’s unfinished business. We were very close in the last edition until stage 10, then we made a mistake due to a technical issue. So of course, we’ll be back in the truck category to achieve our goal, which is to win.”
Guillaume De Mévius also shared his view. For the Belgian rally-raid driver, 2026 was, in human terms, the toughest edition yet. “It’s the first time I’ve attended the route presentation in person, and it’s really motivating and gives you goosebumps when you see all the videos and next year’s route,” De Mévius said. For 2027, he is once again aiming for a top-five finish, with an eye on overall victory. The rocky terrain remains a sticking point: “Punctures in the car category are a real issue and not easy to manage.”
Adrien Van Beveren, now preparing for his twelfth Dakar, sees an opportunity in the parcours. “On paper, this route might suit me better than others,” the Frenchman said. “There’s sand almost every day, and even some stages made up entirely of dunes. That’s ideal for me.” Xavier de Soultrait, who won the SSV class two years ago with Polaris, announced he is ready to fight again. “We are ready. We will fight again with my teammate, against the competition, but also against ourselves.”
ASO sticks with Saudi Arabia despite regional unrest
The presentation took place against a backdrop of ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Yann Le Moenner, CEO of ASO, stressed that the organisation is monitoring the situation closely, but has confidence in the stability that Saudi Arabia has provided as host country to date. Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, president of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, assured that the Kingdom is able to guarantee the security of its borders.
The countdown begins
With entries now open, riders, teams and mechanics begin preparing for an edition that aims to set itself apart through sheer length, more sand and a design that leaves room for upsets right up to the final 50 kilometres. Whether that will actually play out as planned, we will only know on 15 January 2027, when the first overall winner will be crowned on the shores of the Red Sea.
Dakar 2027 in numbers
- Dates: 1 to 15 January 2027
- Start/finish: King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)
- Total distance: 8,390 km
- Special stages: 5,320 km (highest mileage since 2020)
- Stages: prologue + 13 stages
- Marathon stages: 2 (Al Duwadimi/Bisha and Bisha/Al Bahah)
- Rest day: 9 January, Bisha
