The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Dakar Rally has shown a remarkable upward trajectory, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s presence in one of the world’s toughest motorsport events. This progress has evolved from limited individual entries to a confident national presence, culminating in a Saudi competitor winning the previous edition of the rally.
With the seventh edition of the Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 approaching, scheduled for January 3 to 17, 25 Saudi male and female competitors are set to participate. The rally was organized by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) in partnership with the Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport.
Leading the Saudi participants is last edition’s champion, Yazeed Al Rajhi, who is preparing for his 12th Dakar Rally appearance to defend his title, following a series of achievements in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) that have strengthened his position among the top competitors in the car category.
In the Challenger class category, Dania Akeel stands out as a prominent Saudi competitor, preparing for her fifth Dakar Rally. She previously finished eighth in the 2022 edition and won the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas in the T3 category.
The Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 will feature over 812 competitors from 69 nationalities, competing across 433 vehicles in various categories. The diversity of competitors reaffirms Saudi Arabia’s global standing as a leading destination for major motorsport events, underscoring SAMF’s pivotal role in developing the sector and enhancing its international presence.
— SPA
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