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The Rally Dakar is considered the toughest off‑road endurance race in the world, first held in 1979 as the Paris‑Dakar rally. After a decade in South America, the event moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020, where it found vast deserts and varied terrain ideal for rally‑raid racing. Each edition covers roughly 8,000 kilometers over 12–14 stages, combining dunes, rocky mountains, and gravel plains. The rally features multiple vehicle categories, including cars, bikes, trucks, quads, and side‑by‑sides (SSVs), and challenges competitors with daily navigation via roadbooks rather than marked routes.

Saudi’s unique landscapes — from the Empty Quarter to Al‑Ula, Ha’il, and Jeddah — have given the race new identity and unpredictability. Routes change every year, ensuring fresh challenges and emphasizing endurance, strategy, and mechanical reliability. Top drivers such as Yazid al Rajhi, Nasser Al‑Attiyah, Carlos Sainz Sr., and Sébastien Loeb regularly compete, with many battles decided by minutes after thousands of kilometers.

The move to Saudi aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, boosting international tourism and positioning the country as a major motorsport hub. It has also encouraged local participation, with more Saudi and Gulf drivers entering annually. Environmental initiatives are increasingly integrated, introducing hybrid technologies and renewable fuels to reduce emissions.

Held every January, Dakar Saudi Arabia opens the global motorsport calendar and continues to grow in global popularity, cementing itself as the ultimate test of human and machine in extreme conditions.