The Dakar Rally 2025 will cover more than 7,000 kilometers through Saudi Arabia, from Bisha to Shubaytah

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The 47th edition of the Dakar Rally kicks off on January 3rd

The 47th edition of the Dakar Rally will start next January 3, and for the sixth time, it will be held in the Saudi Arabian desert. However, this year promises to be one of the toughest and most difficult editions that have been disputed so far. For, taking advantage of the geographical diversity offered by the Saudi territory (dunes, deserts and rocky terrain), tests have been designed that combine the tradition of the rally with new challenges.

The competition will feature a total of 12 different stages, spread over 13 days in which they will have to complete more than 7,000 kilometers (with 5,000 kilometers of timed special stages).

During the two weeks of the Dakar, competitors will visit various locations in Saudi Arabia: Bisha, Al Henakiyah, Al Ula, Hail, Al Duwadimi, Riyadh, Haradh and Shubaytah.

Route of the Dakar 2025

The race will start on January 3, with the place chosen as the starting point the town of Bisha, located in the southwest of Saudi Arabia and which has already been part of the route in previous editions of the Dakar.

The total route during these two weeks of competition will consist of more than 7,000 kilometers, of which more than 5,000 kilometers will be timed special stages. The toughest test that is foreseen, and in which the drivers will demonstrate their capacity for survival, will be a 48-hour marathon stage during the second stage, where the participants will face more than 1,000 kilometers without external assistance.

Halfway through the competition and in the northern part of the country, the drivers will be able to rest in the city of Hail, where they are scheduled to go on January 10. During this break, the teams will be able to check the vehicles and make the necessary repairs to continue with the second half of the rally.

From then on, the route will continue eastward to Saudi Arabia, until the final stage, located in the Shubaytah region, where they will have to perform the final tests. The Dakar Rally 2025 will finish on January 17, starting and finishing in Shubaytah, where a final 134-kilometer day will take place.

Schedule of the Dakar 2025

• Prologue (January 3): Bisha- Bisha (79 kilometers)
• Stage 1 (January 4): Bisha- Bisha (499 kilometers)
• Stage 2 (January 5 and 6): Bisha- Bisha (1,058 kilometers)
• Stage 3 (January 7): Bisha- Al Henakiyah (847 kilometers)
• Stage 4 (January 8): Al Henakiyah- Al Ula (588 kilometers)
• Stage 5 (January 9): Al Ula- Hail (492 kilometers)
• Rest (January 10): Hail
• Stage 6 (January 11): Hail- Al Duwadimi (828 km)
• Stage 7 (January 12): Al Duwadimi- Al Duwadimi (742 km)
• Stage 8 (January 13): Al Duwadimi - Riyadh (737 km)
• Stage 9 (January 14th): Riyadh- Haradh (589 km)
• Stage 10 (January 15): Haradh- Shubaytah (640 km)
• Stage 11 (January 16): Shubaytah- Shubaytah (506 kilometers)
• Stage 12 (January 17): Shubaytah- Shubaytah (131 kilometers)