5,320 km of Timed Competition
The 2027 edition will feature 5,320 km of timed competitive stages, the longest competitive distance of the Dakar’s Saudi Arabian era.
Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia
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Event Overview
The Dakar Rally is one of the world’s most prestigious and demanding cross-country rallies. Since Saudi Arabia began hosting the event in 2020, it has opened a new chapter in the history of this global competition, delivering exceptional racing across a wide variety of terrain, from sand dunes and vast deserts to mountainous landscapes and rocky tracks. These demanding routes test the skills of drivers and co-drivers, as well as the endurance of their vehicles in some of the toughest conditions, while showcasing the remarkable geographic and natural diversity of Saudi Arabia.
Highlights from Previous Editions
Two Seconds Decide the Title
Route: Yanbu to Yanbu
Date: January 3–17, 2026
Key Locations: Yanbu, AlUla, Hail, Riyadh, Wadi Ad-Dawasir, Bisha, and Al Henakiyah
Total Distance: 8,065 km, including 4,831 km of timed competitive stages
Cars Winner: Nasser Al-Attiyah – Dacia Sandriders
Motorcycles Winner: Luciano Benavides – Red Bull KTM
Highlights: Nasser Al-Attiyah claimed his sixth Dakar Rally title and delivered Dacia its first overall victory. Luciano Benavides secured his first motorcycles title by just two seconds over Ricky Brabec, the closest winning margin in Dakar history. Saudi driver Yasir Seaidan also finished second in the Challenger category.
| Driver | Previous Teams | 2026 team: | Dakar wins: | 2026 result: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Yazeed Al-Rajhi Timo Gottschalk | X-raid Mini, Toyota Gazoo Racing and Overdrive Racing | Overdrive Racing–Toyota | Yazeed 1, Gottschalk 1 | Retired during Stage 4 |
 Nasser Al-Attiyah Fabian Lurquin | BMW, Volkswagen, Hummer, Mini, Toyota and Prodrive | The Dacia Sandriders | Al-Attiyah 6; Lurquin 1 | Winner |
 Carlos SainzLucas Cruz | Volkswagen, Mini, Peugeot and Audi | Ford Racing | Sainz 4; Cruz 4 | Fifth |
Yasir Seaidan Xavier Flick | X-raid Mini, SRT Racing and MMP | Yasir Racing–Taurus | 4 stage victories | Second |
| Dania AkeelSébastien Delaunay | South Racing Can-Am, Overdrive Racing and BBR Motorsport | BBR Motorsport–Taurus | 1 stage victory | Eighth |
| Pau NavarroJan Rosa | FN Speed and BBR Motorsport | Odyssey Academy by BBR | Challenger 2026 | Winner |
 Nicolás CavigliassoValentina Pertegarini | Yamaha in Quads and Taurus Factory Team | Vertical Motorsport | Cavigliasso 2; Pertegarini 1 | Third |
Saleh Al-Saif Albert Veliavičius | Black Horse Team, Taurus and Can-Am teams | Dark Horse Team–Can-Am | 6 stage victories | Retired during Stage 5 |
 Brock HegerMax Eddy Jr. | Polaris Factory Racing | Polaris Factory Racing | SSV 2025 and 2026 | Winner |
| Kyle ChaneyJacob Argubright | Can-Am Factory Racing | Can-Am Factory Racing | — | Second |
| Rokas BaciuškaOriol Vidal | South Racing Can-Am, Red Bull Can-Am and Overdrive Toyota | Defender Rally | Stock 2026 | — |
| Sara PriceSean Berriman | Can-Am Factory Racing | Defender Rally | — | Second |
| Stéphane PeterhanselMichaël Metge | Yamaha, Mitsubishi, Mini, Peugeot and Audi | — | Peterhansel 14 (Peterhansel Bike 6, Cars 8) | Fourth |
| Luciano Benavides | Monster Energy Honda and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | Bikes 2026 | Winner |
| Ricky Brabec | No previous Dakar factory team | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Bikes 2020, 2024 | Second |
 Daniel Sanders | Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | Bikes 2025 | Fifth |
Vaidotas Žala Paulo Fiúza Max van Grol | Agrorodeo, X-raid Mini and Teltonika Racing in the car category | Nørdis Team De Rooy FPT–Iveco | Žala Trucks 2026 | Winner |
 Aleš LopraisDavid KřípalJiří Stross | Loprais Tatra Team, InstaForex Loprais Team and Praga | InstaTrade Loprais Team De Rooy FPT–Iveco | — | Second |
| Martin MacíkFrantišek TomášekDavid Švanda | KM Racing, Big Shock Racing and MM Technology | MM Technology–Iveco | Macík Trucks 2024 and 2025 | Fourth |
Key Facts
First Saudi Champion – 2025
Yazeed Al Rajhi became the first Saudi driver to win the Dakar Rally when he claimed the cars title in 2025.
Three Saudi-Era Victories for Al-Attiyah
Nasser Al-Attiyah has won the cars category three times since the Dakar moved to Saudi Arabia, taking victories in 2022, 2023, and 2026 – the most by any driver during the rally’s Saudi era to date.
Decided by Just Two Seconds
The 2026 motorcycles title was decided by only two seconds between Luciano Benavides and Ricky Brabec, the closest final winning margin in Dakar Rally history.
A World Championship Begins – 2022
The 2022 Dakar Rally served as the opening round of the inaugural FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).
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