Daily route plan guide for the 2026 Dakar Rally, round one of the FIM World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC) in Saudi Arabia, beginning January 3.

There are 118 FIM entries in the bike category for this year’s Dakar Rally, from 812 in total arriving from 69 countries – this remains one of the truly global races on planet earth and stands as the most captivating off-road competition.

The bikes are split into three categories: RallyGP for professional riders and factory teams; Rally2 for privateers and semi-professional participants; and Original by Motul for riders competing without technical support while handling their own maintenance and repairs.

8000K route with 4800k on the clock

With a total distance of 7999 kilometres, including 4845 kilometres of timed Special Stages, the 2026 route nearly matches the longest competitive distance of the rally’s Saudi era across every terrain from the Red Sea coast to the deep desert and back.

The new route reflects the ongoing evolution of the rally in recent years with fewer bivouacs to help support crews, while redesigned marathon stages help shape the rhythm of the event for competitors. Intense days are balanced by recovery opportunities around the rest day, creating a course defined by both challenge and deliberate pacing.

Yanbu – Start and finish point on the Red Sea coast

Yanbu bookends the 2026 Dakar Rally, hosting the Prologue, Stages 1 and 2, and the final Stage 13. Set between the Red Sea and a stretch of inland hills, the region offers a mix of gravel plains, rocky corridors, and light sandy terrain that shifts subtly in color and tone throughout the day. The blend of coastal calm and rugged interior landscapes gives competitors an early sense of the rally’s character and provides a familiar backdrop when they return to the finish on the Red Sea coast.

AlUla – Distinctive desert scenery and marathon conditions

Arriving from the opening stages in Yanbu, AlUla brings competitors into one of the rally’s most distinctive settings, where sandy tracks run through wide open spaces and weave around centuries-shaped rock formations. The region’s limited landmarks and expanding network of tracks place added weight on navigation, while the mix of plains, hills, and rocky stretches requires regular changes in pace. As part of the marathon phase, teams face simple desert camps and minimal support, keeping the focus on careful vehicle management in one of the rally’s most visually striking regions.

Hail – Key region with deep rally roots and the longest stage

Hail adds a familiar rhythm to Dakar 2026, drawing competitors into a region deeply connected to Saudi Arabia’s rally heritage. The stage, the longest of Dakar 2026, unfolds toward the Qassim area, where the dunes that local off-road communities have navigated for generations rise and fall as far as the eye can see. The day is spent almost entirely on sand, moving between rolling dune lines and broad valleys that offer little change in surface but plenty of shifts in momentum. It is a long, demanding stretch that rewards comfort in deep sand before the field makes a lengthy liaison toward Riyadh and a well-earned rest day.

Riyadh – Central transition marked by a steady race rhythm

Riyadh marks a reset point in the rally, where competitors return to the course after the rest day with renewed focus. The stage that follows calls for a measured approach: confidence from the first week can be helpful, but overconfidence can be costly. Sandy, fast tracks dominate the route, with occasional dense bushes along the edges, though the terrain itself presents few major hazards beyond the temptation to push too hard. With the day’s combined distance approaching 900 kilometers, sustained concentration becomes essential, even during the long liaison sections leading in and out of the capital.

Wadi Al-Dawasir – Extensive dunes and classic desert driving

Wadi Al-Dawasir brings the rally back into classic desert territory as competitors leave Riyadh and enter one of Saudi Arabia’s largest dune regions. The landscape offers one of the most complete terrain mixes of the rally, with long dune lines, broad valleys, and clear horizons that create a steady but demanding pace. Navigation is straightforward but unforgiving, as even small mistakes can lead teams off course, especially with this part of the route forming the core of the event’s second marathon phase. The area’s size and consistency test endurance and focus, offering a full return to deep-desert driving in a region closely tied to Dakar’s sand heritage.

Bisha – Fast terrain with demanding navigation

Bisha introduces a different type of challenge to Dakar 2026, where the main difficulty comes from navigation rather than the terrain itself. The tracks in this region often allow for a fast pace, but the abundance of intersections, forks, and junctions can quickly create a maze-like environment. Staying focused becomes essential, especially with the long overall distance adding to the day’s fatigue. Competitors who manage their pace and maintain clarity through the shifting network of routes will be best positioned as the rally moves toward Al-Henakiyah.

Al-Henakiyah – Mixed terrain requiring precise control

Al-Henakiyah offers one of the final opportunities for competitors to influence the standings, with a route that shifts quickly between different types of terrain. Fast tracks give way to narrower, more winding sections, and parts of the day run through riverbeds where conditions can change without warning. The stage ends with a series of small dunes that may look modest but still demand attention and control. It is a varied and active day on the course, where a strong, well-rounded performance can still make a meaningful difference before the rally returns to Yanbu.

812 competitors representing 69 countries

One name stands out among the favourites for the title of the 48th edition: 2025 winner Daniel Sanders, almost untouchable throughout the season, is the bookmakers’ favorite to try to retain his title, alongside teammates Luciano Benavides and the promising Edgar Canet at Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

Up against the Australian, the Monster Energy Honda HRC team arrives with a strong density of proven talent: Tosha Schareina, Ricky Brabec, Adrien Van Beveren, and Skyler Howes will not be held back by any complexes in their bid for the top.

Hero MotoSport, with Ross Branch and Nacho Cornejo, and Sherco Rally Factory, with Bradley Cox and Lorenzo Santolino, will try to join the battle for the Rally GP podium, as well as for the Rally 2 title. In that category, Tobias Ebster (Hero) and Harith Noah (Sherco) will notably be up against Michael Docherty (BAS World KTM Team).

The record of the last ten Dakar editions offers a snapshot of the recent history of the discipline, which has seen the emergence of solid champions from new continents, the end of KTM’s hegemony, a significantly broadened circle of major contenders, and titles more fiercely contested than during the Despres–Coma era. Over this period, six riders have reached the top, but none has managed to win twice in a row.

Enduro21’s coverage begins from Saturday, January 3 ahead of the prologue time trials.

Photo Credit: A.S.O.