Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2025 Kicks Off Today From Bisha Governorate

Bisha, Saudi Arabia: The world’s largest and longest motorsports race, the "Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2025," has officially started today in Bisha Governorate. This marks the sixth consecutive year that Saudi Arabia hosts this prestigious event, which will run until January 17.

Prince Abdulaziz Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, highlighted the diversity and excitement of this year’s event, stating, “This year’s Dakar Rally will feature many diverse stages, with competitors covering a distance of 7,737 kilometers, including 5,129 kilometers as special stages. Competitors will start from Bisha and embark on a thrilling journey across Saudi Arabia, including regions such as Al-Hanakiyah, Al-Ula, Hail, and Al-Dawadmi, as well as Riyadh and Haradh, before concluding the competition in Shubaytah.”

Prince Khalid Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company, expressed excitement about this year's rally, stating, “We look forward to witnessing an exceptional version full of excitement and challenge, with new tracks covering areas that the rally has not visited before.”

This year's Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2025 will see the participation of more than 800 participants representing 70 nationalities worldwide, competing with 439 vehicles across six categories. The car category will feature 130 drivers and navigators, while the motorcycle category will have more than 136 competitors. The Challenger light desert vehicle category will host 108 drivers and navigators, the side-by-side category 78 drivers and navigators, and the truck category more than 135 drivers, navigators, and co-drivers. Additionally, the Dakar Classic will feature 76 classic cars and 19 classic trucks.

The rally will spotlight new Saudi talent through the “Next Saudi Generation” initiative, which gives emerging Saudi drivers their first Dakar experience. Five drivers have been selected for this initiative: Fahad Al-Marshash, Hamza Bakhashab, Abdullah Al-Shaqawi, Fatima Banaz, and Marihan Al-Baz, with the winner participating in the Dakar Rally 2026.

The event will include five stages with separate tracks for cars and motorcycles. On the sidelines, the "Mission 1000 Challenge" initiative will feature five cars equipped with the latest technologies participating on the same rally tracks.