Saudi Arabia to host the Dakar Rally

Bruno Gomes

February 21, 2019

Saudi Arabia Dakar Rally | Photo credits: ADV Pulse

After 11 years in South America, an against the possibility of moving back to Africa (Angola and South Africa were tipped to be the main countries for the next Dakar), it seems the event organizers A.S.O. have made a last minute change and are now very close to announce that the Dakar will be held in Saudi Arabia.

The lack of interest from South American countries was the main reason for the Dakar to change continent once again. This year was the first ever Dakar to be held in only one country, Peru, while Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and other nations decided to stop paying A.S.O. for the chance to welcome the race within their borders.

The move to Saudi Arabia will make the Dakar stay in this middle east country for at least five years, starting 2020, with Saudi Arabia authorities paying as much as 15 million euros every year to secure the race there.

Yazeed Al-Rajhi, one of the main Saudi racers in the Dakar, posted a photo on his Instagram page saying “Let’s go!”. The post would be normal, if it wasn’t the photo of a Dakar stage mixed with the Saudi Arabia flag.

A.S.O. hasn’t confirmed any of this, but this possibility is being taken by everyone as a done deal, and it’s only a matter of days until we get the confirmation that the Dakar will be held in Saudi Arabia from 2020 onwards.