Morocco will host 11 of the rally’s stages, finishing in Marrakech, after organizers moved the 49th edition from Saudi Arabia.

The Dakar Rally will return to Africa in 2027, with Morocco hosting most of the race after organizers moved the event from Saudi Arabia over security concerns in the region.

Dakar Rally 2027 route: Portugal to Morocco

Organizer Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) said Friday that Portugal’s Algarve region will host the prologue and opening special stage. Competitors will then cross into Morocco for the remaining 11 stages, with a rest day in Agadir.

The 49th edition of the rally is scheduled for Jan. 9-23, subject to approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

Competitors will cover 7,824 kilometers from Loulé-Faro in Portugal to Marrakech, including 4,341 kilometers of timed special stages.

Why the rally left Saudi Arabia

The relocation follows ASO’s decision to withdraw the 2027 race from Saudi Arabia because of security concerns linked to recent developments in the region.

Organizers described the move as an exceptional, one-off decision and said the rally will return to Saudi Arabia for its 50th edition in 2028.

The Dakar’s history in Africa

The move marks the Dakar’s first return to Africa since the 2007 edition. The rally began in 1978 as a race from Paris across the Sahara to Dakar, Senegal.

The 2008 edition was canceled before it began because of security threats in Mauritania, and the event moved to South America from 2009 to 2019. Saudi Arabia has hosted the rally since 2020.

Morocco has longstanding ties to the Dakar and remains a major destination for rally-raid competition. The country also hosts the Rallye du Maroc, part of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship.