Dakar Rally
Dakar Rally takes place Early to mid Jan 2027 (roughly two weeks; route announced the previous autumn) in Various, Saudi Arabia. The dress code is Rugged desert outdoor gear, closed shoes for sand and genuinely warm layers for cold desert nights. Typical cost ranges from 500 to 6000 EUR per person.
The toughest rally-raid in the world, a two-week cross-country marathon for cars, bikes, trucks and lightweight prototypes across Saudi dunes, canyons and the Empty Quarter, with the entire bivouac city moving every day. Navigation errors cost more than speed. AlUla's sandstone canyons and the deep dunes of the Rub' al Khali provide backdrops that no circuit can match.
- When
- Early to mid Jan 2027 (roughly two weeks; route announced the previous autumn)
- Where
- Various, Saudi Arabia
- Dress code
- Rugged desert outdoor gear, closed shoes for sand and genuinely warm layers for cold desert nights
- Cost
- Typical cost ranges from 500 to 6000 EUR per person.
- Weather
- 18 - 25C by day in the Saudi desert, dropping to near 0 - 8C at night
- When to book
- The route is published in the autumn; guided spectator, bivouac-visit and desert-tour packages sell out by November
- Getting there
- RUH (Riyadh) or ULH (AlUla), then a 4x4 transfer of several hours to accessible stage points
- Where to stay
- Banyan Tree AlUla, Habitas AlUla, Shaden Resort, AlUla
- Official site
- https://www.dakar.com
How to attend
Watching from open desert spectator zones and the start and finish areas is generally free - follow the route on dakar.com and reach accessible points by 4x4. For genuine access, book an official spectator, bivouac-visit or guided desert-tour package through ASO partners and Saudi operators well in advance; these run into the thousands of euros. Self-driving requires proper desert preparation and permits.
Watching from the open desert spectator zones and the start and finish areas is free with no ticket - the only paid route is a bivouac or guided desert package arranged privately with the organiser's partner operators.
Insider tip
Do not try to freelance in the deep desert - the realistically accessible points are the start and finish podiums, the AlUla area and the bivouac open days; anything beyond that needs a convoy, a satellite phone and permits.
Get inside Dakar Rally
Booking matters here: the route is published in the autumn; guided spectator, bivouac-visit and desert-tour packages sell out by November. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.