Dakar Rally organizers announced on Sunday that the competition will be held in another country instead of Saudi Arabia in 2027, "following recent developments in the region".

Dakar Rally organizers announced on Sunday that the competition will be held in another country instead of Saudi Arabia in 2027, "following recent developments in the region".

The organizers' statement reads: "Dakar Rally 2027 will be held. The 2027 edition of this competition will be held in another country", but ASO will still be responsible for its existence; the organization that organizes this competition together with the Saudi Arabian Motor Sports Company (SMC).

This is the last sporting event to be canceled, postponed or moved to another location due to the consequences of the Iran war.

According to Arab News, Saudi Arabia and the legitimate government of Yemen have been the target of sustained attacks by the Houthis in recent weeks. The attacks changed the course of the war since the collapse of the multi-year ceasefire in the summer.

According to this report, the preferred option for next year's Dakar Rally is to start the race in Spain and finish in Morocco. In this case, this multi-stage rally, founded in 1978, will return to Africa for the first time since 2007.

This race, formerly called "Paris-Dakar", used to start from the capital of France and its route ended in the capital of Senegal, Dakar.

But security threats along the route of this competition in North Africa meant that it will be held in South America from 2009 and in Saudi Arabia from 2020.

Organizers have announced that they plan to bring this rally back to Saudi Arabia in 2028 to celebrate its 50th edition.