The 49th edition of the Dakar Rally is set to take place from January 9 to 23, 2027, with the majority of the stages being held in Morocco. The rally will start in Loulé-Faro, Portugal, and conclude in Marrakech, Morocco, after covering a total distance of 7,824 kilometers, including 4,341 kilometers of special stages. The event will feature a prologue and the first special stage in the Algarve region of Portugal.
Morocco will host 11 out of the 12 stages of the rally, including the rest day in Agadir. This marks the return of the Dakar Rally to Africa after seven consecutive editions in Saudi Arabia. The rally's organizer, Amaury Sport Organisation, cited the geopolitical situation in the Arabian Peninsula as the reason for the relocation. The decision to hold the rally in Morocco is described as exceptional and temporary, with the 50th edition scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2028.
The rally's route will explore the Moroccan territory from north to south. The event's director, David Castera, assured that despite the short preparation time, a full-fledged Dakar Rally has been planned, meeting the sport's standards. The rally had previously taken place in Africa from its inception in the late 1970s until 2008, before being moved to South America from 2009 to 2019 and then to Saudi Arabia.
The Dakar Rally has a history of being held in Morocco, which has hosted other rally-raid events in recent years. The rally typically attracts hundreds of vehicles and thousands of people, including bivouacs and support teams, to areas with limited accommodation options. The event's impact on the local economy and the number of competitors expected to participate have not been disclosed.
The dates of the rally are subject to approval by the World Motor Sport Council, as the initial dates had been set from January 1 to 15, 2027. The rally's organization has promised to create a genuine Dakar experience, despite the challenges posed by the short preparation time.
The return of the Dakar Rally to Morocco is seen as a significant development, given the country's experience in hosting rally-raid events. The event is expected to bring economic benefits to the region, although the exact details of the financial impact and the number of participants have not been released.
The 2027 Dakar Rally promises to be an exciting event, with a challenging route and a strong field of competitors expected to participate. The rally's organizers have assured that the event will meet the high standards of the sport, despite the exceptional circumstances that led to its relocation to Morocco.
Key points
- The 2027 Dakar Rally will take place mostly in Morocco, with 11 out of 12 stages being held in the country.
- The rally will cover a total distance of 7,824 kilometers, including 4,341 kilometers of special stages.
- The event's organizer cited the geopolitical situation in the Arabian Peninsula as the reason for the relocation to Morocco.
