The venue change removes Saudi Arabia from the plans for the next edition of the major endurance race. The supplied reports do not identify the replacement country or venue, and organizers have not yet officially confirmed one.
According to Yahoo Sports, the rally was originally scheduled to run from January 1 through January 15, 2027. The report said the race would still be held elsewhere after organizers announced that it would not take place in Saudi Arabia.
Yahoo Sports attributed the decision to a tense regional situation caused by ongoing attacks by Houthi rebels. Clarín likewise reported that organizers linked the venue change to attacks by Houthi rebels from Yemen. The supplied coverage does not provide a detailed security assessment or identify the specific incidents behind the decision.
Clarín also reported that Saudi Arabia is expected to host the Dakar Rally again in 2028, when the 50th edition is scheduled. That reported return appears only in the Clarín material and is not independently corroborated by the other supplied sources.