- Dakar 2026 Route: Yanbu Desert Challenge
- 812 Competitors from 69 Nations: Strongest Field
- Rally Stages: 13 Desert Battles
- Yanbu: Start & Finish Point
- AlUla: Saudi North Jewel
- Hail: Northern Gateway
- Riyadh: Capital Heart
- Wadi Al-Dawaser: Dune Capital
- Bisha: Rugged South
- Hnakiyah: Southern Gateway
- Competitive Categories: 4 Separate Battles
- Expected Champions: Epic Battle
- Logistics Challenges: 7000km Support
- Saudi History: 7th Edition
- Economic Impact: SAR 3 Billion
- Live Broadcast & Tracking
- Spectator Tips in Saudi Arabia
Dakar Saudi Arabia 2026, 48th edition, launches from Yanbu January 3 through AlUla, Hail, Riyadh, Wadi Al-Dawaser, Bisha, Hnakiyah, concluding January 17 with 812 competitors from 69 nations in 433 cars, 134 bikes, 25 quads, 42 trucks across 13 competitive stages + 1 Prologue totaling 7994km.
Dakar 2026 Route: Yanbu Desert Challenge
The rally starts January 3, 2026 from Yanbu on the Red Sea through 6 key stops: AlUla, Hail, Riyadh, Wadi Al-Dawaser, Bisha, Hnakiyah, returning to Yanbu after 7994km (5401km competitive) across diverse terrains of dunes, gravel, rocks, and wadis.
Stage | Date | Distance | Terrain | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Prologue | Jan 3 | 105km | Highways | Yanbu |
Stage 1 | Jan 4 | 587km | Dunes | Yanbu-AlUla |
Stage 6 | Jan 9 | 678km | Rocks | Hail-Riyadh |
Stage 12 | Jan 15 | 612km | Wadis | Bisha-Hnakiyah |
812 Competitors from 69 Nations: Strongest Field
Dakar 2026 records highest participation with 812 racers (69% from 69 nations), including Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar, 5x winner), Sebastien Loeb (France), Carlos Sainz (Spain).
Category | Count | % Participation | Expected Winners |
|---|---|---|---|
Cars | 433 | 53% | Al-Attiyah, Loeb |
Bikes | 134 | 16% | Quast |
Quads | 25 | 3% | TBD |
Trucks | 42 | 5% | Mamo |
SxS | 138 | 17% | Orioli |
Rally Stages: 13 Desert Battles
Features Prologue + 13 competitive stages with daily distances 400-700km:
Stage | Date | Type | Competitive Distance | Main Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
P1 | Jan 4 | Dunes | 587km | Deep sand |
P6 | Jan 9 | Rocks | 678km | Sharp mountains |
P12 | Jan 15 | Wadis | 612km | Flash floods |
Final | Jan 17 | Mixed | 430km | Final fatigue |
Yanbu: Start & Finish Point
Red Sea Yanbu:
Main international arrival port
Diverse nearby terrain
Advanced racer infrastructure
Finish Route:
Return to Yanbu after 14 days
Royal crowning ceremony
Public celebrations
AlUla: Saudi North Jewel
Stages 1-2:
Red sand dunes
Basalt rocks
35°C daytime temps
Challenges:
Fine sand (80% vehicle losses)
Low gravity in depressions
Hail: Northern Gateway
Stages 4-5:
Volcanic gravel
Dry wadis
1200m elevation
Danger:
Sharp rocks (40% tire damage)
Morning fog
Riyadh: Capital Heart
Stages 7-8:
Desert suburbs
Artificial dunes
Royal oversight
Highlights:
Massive crowd support
Advanced medical services
Wadi Al-Dawaser: Dune Capital
Stages 9-10:
World's tallest dunes (300m)
Fine white sand
45°C night temps
Terror:
"Big Mouth" (305m dune)
GPS loss in deep areas
Bisha: Rugged South
Stage 11:
Rocky mountains
Narrow wadis
Atlas-like terrain
Challenge:
Steep descents (45°)
Sharp stones
Hnakiyah: Southern Gateway
Stage 12:
Open desert
Strong winds
Moving dunes
Final Prep:
Stage preparation
Last vehicle maintenance
Competitive Categories: 4 Separate Battles
Cars (433 units):
Ultimate (T1): Prodrive Hunter, Toyota GR
Challenger (T3): Can-Am, Taurus
Production (T2): Mini JCW, Toyota Hilux
Bikes (134):
Rally GP: KTM, Honda
Rally2: Husqvarna, GasGas
Expected Champions: Epic Battle
Cars:
Driver | Nationality | Wins | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
Nasser Al-Attiyah | Qatar | 5 | Prodrive Hunter |
Sebastien Loeb | France | 0 | Prodrive Hunter |
Carlos Sainz | Spain | 4 | Audi Hybrid |
Trucks:
Mitchel Mamo (Italy) - Iveco
Logistics Challenges: 7000km Support
Organization:
2500 staff
14 helicopters
70 ambulances
5000km portable power
Safety:
3m accurate GPS
5G communication towers
Field hospitals
Saudi History: 7th Edition
Since 2020:
Year | Car Winner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2020 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | First Saudi edition |
2024 | Al-Attiyah | Fifth win |
2026 | Expected Al-Attiyah | Seventh edition |
Economic Impact: SAR 3 Billion
Returns:
SAR 500M tourism
SAR 1.2B media
SAR 1.3B logistics
Employment:
10,000 temporary jobs
500 local companies supported
Live Broadcast & Tracking
Channels:
OSN Sports
beIN Sports
Dakar TV (free)
YouTube Live
Apps:
Dakar App (live GPS)
Digital Roadbook
Spectator Tips in Saudi Arabia
Best Spots:
City | Best Location | Distance |
|---|---|---|
Riyadh | Boulevard World | 15km |
Wadi Al-Dawaser | Mövenpick Hotel | Dunes |
AlUla | Heaven Rock | Mountains |
Preparation:
Desert shades
Cold water (50L/day)
SPF 50+ cream
Dakar Saudi Arabia 2026 solidifies Kingdom's position as global motorsport hub, uniting 812 competitors from 69 nations in 7994km battle across planet's harshest terrains from Yanbu to Wadi Al-Dawaser. The event tests physical/technical limits while showcasing Saudi Arabia's world-class event hosting capability, generating SAR 3 billion economic returns and boosting desert tourism with expectations of continued Nasser Al-Attiyah dominance.
