You’ve seen the reports all week, and the ASO confirmed them. Well, half confirmed.

On Sunday, the Amaury Sport Organisation announced the 2027 Dakar Raly will not be held in Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. However, the organizers didn’t reveal where it would be held despite virtually everyone knowing it’ll take place in Portugal or Spain, and Morocco. Instead, the new location “will be announced separately in the coming days.”

The 2028 Dakar, which will be the 50th edition, hopes to be back in Saudi Arabia if the crisis is mostly resolved and the region stabilizes enough. The ASO’s contract with the Saudis runs through 2029.

Several reports indicate the 2027 Dakar will begin in the Portuguese city of Loulé with a Prologue on January 9, then cross the Mediterranean into Morocco. Once in Africa, the race will run through January 22. Pro Dunes, organizer of the Rallye du Maroc, will collaborate with the ASO to oversee the reworked Dakar.

Of course, the new route marks a return to the race’s roots. It might not be going from Paris to the Senegalese capital like in the days of yore (the Africa Eco Race, which begins two days after the new Dakar’s reported finish, will continue to satiate your desire for that), but there’s something right about seeing the Dakar Rally on the African continent again.

This alternative route was the ASO’s Plan B to go with a Plan A which would’ve kept the rally in Saudi Arabia, except move it further north away from Yemen. While the war between the United States and Israel versus Iran has been ongoing since February, the Houthis are the main concern for the Saudi government as the two belligerents have been engaged in the Yemeni Civil War since 2015. Earlier in October, the Houthis struck three Saudi airports and killed 22 people.

In September, the ASO denied rumors that the race would be canceled. Various teams have already opted out of Dakar due to logistical or insurance concerns related to the conflict.

“Saudi Arabia will host Dakar 2028, a landmark edition celebrating the 50th running of the rally,” the ASO’s statement continues. “Both organisations (the ASO and Saudi Motorsport Company) are already working together to make this milestone an exceptional moment for the Dakar and for the Kingdom, with a shared commitment to once again deliver an iconic and world-class event to the highest of standards.

“Since 2020, Saudi Arabia has hosted seven consecutive editions of Dakar, welcoming competitors from around the world on routes that showcased the Kingdom’s remarkable geographical diversity. These editions have made Saudi Arabia an integral part of the Dakar community and established a strong, long-term strategic partnership between ASO, SMC, and SAMF. All three organisations reaffirm their commitment to continuing their cooperation, developing motorsport in the Kingdom and delivering outstanding experiences for competitors, teams and fans.”

Featured image credit: Jennifer Lindini / ASO