{
  "id": 16490593,
  "title": "2027 Dakar Rally will not be held in Saudi Arabia, organisers say",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/2027-dakar-rally-will-not-be-held-in-saudi-arabia-organisers-say",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T15:04:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/motorsport/2027-dakar-rally-will-not-be-held-in-saudi-arabia-organisers-say-1.500723227"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 49th edition of the Dakar Rally, originally scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia from January 1 to 15, 2027, will now be held in a different territory, according to organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) and Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC). The decision was made following recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East, with the new host location expected to be announced soon. The rally, which has been held in Saudi Arabia since 2020, will still proceed as planned, with Morocco and Portugal or Spain among potential new destinations. The Prologue may also be held in Portugal or Spain before the rally moves across the Alboran Sea. Despite the relocation, Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2028 Dakar Rally, marking the 50th running of the event.",
  "summary": "Dubai: The 2027 Dakar Rally will no longer take place in Saudi Arabia as originally planned, with organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) and Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) confirming that the event will be relocated to a different territory following recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East. Scheduled from January 1 to 15, 2027, the 49th edition of the rally will go ahead as…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CNBC",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia says it intercepted missiles and drones from Iran-backed Houthis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/saudi-arabia-says-it-intercepted-missiles-and-drones-from-iran-backed",
        "published": "2026-10-25T13:41:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Rallying-Dakar Rally 2027 will not be held in Saudi Arabia, organisers say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/rallying-dakar-rally-2027-will-not-be-held-in-saudi-arabia-organisers",
        "published": "2026-10-25T15:00:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Dakar Rally off-road race moved out of Saudi Arabia over ‘developments’ in Middle East",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/dakar-rally-off-road-race-moved-out-of-saudi-arabia-over-developments",
        "published": "2026-10-25T15:01:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia and Greece pledge closer defense and economic ties",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/saudi-arabia-and-greece-pledge-closer-defense-and-economic-ties",
        "published": "2026-10-25T16:46:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}