The route of the 45th edition of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, the first round of the 2023 FIA and FIM World Rally Championship, has been unveiled.

After a start on 31 December 2022 in a Sea Camp on the Red Sea, the competitors will cross the now familiar sites of AlUla, Ha’il and Riyadh, before staying for 4 days in the Empty Quarter. At the end of nearly 5,000 kilometres spread over 14 stages, the 45th edition of the Dakar will reach the shores of the Arabian Gulf with a finish on 15 January 2023 in Dammam.

THE ROUTE

Starting on a Sea Camp on the shores of the Red Sea and ending on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula, where the competitors will discover the coast of the Arabian Gulf after a four-day adventure through the Empty Quarter, including the marathon stage, the 45th edition of the Dakar is the toughest one since the rally came to Saudi Arabia. Packing almost 5,000 kilometres of specials into a prologue and 14 stages, the route is a true test of extreme endurance.

STAGE DATE START AND FINISH RACE DISTANCE
Total | Special
P Saturday, december 31, 2022 SEA CAMP > SEA CAMP 10 km | 10 km PROLOGUE
1 Sunday, january 1, 2023 SEA CAMP > SEA CAMP 603 km | 368 km STAGE 1
2 Monday, january 2, 2023 SEA CAMP > AL ULA 590 km | 431 km STAGE 2
3 Tuesday, january 3, 2023 AL ULA > HA’IL 669 km | 447 km STAGE 3
4 Wednesday, january 4, 2023 HA’IL > HA’IL 573 km | 425 km STAGE 4
5 Thursday, january 5, 2023 HA’IL > HA’IL 646 km | 375 km STAGE 5
6 Friday, january 6, 2023 HA’IL > AL DUWADIMI 876.68 km | 466 km STAGE 6
7 Saturday, january 7, 2023 AL DUWADIMI > AL DUWADIMI 641.47 km | 473 km STAGE 7
8 Sunday, january 8, 2023 AL DUWADIMI > RIYADH 722.41 km | 407 km STAGE 8
– Monday, january 9, 2023 RIYADH REST
9 Tuesday, january 10, 2023 RIYADH > HARADH 710 km | 439 km STAGE 9
10 Wednesday, january 11, 2023 HARADH > SHAYBAH 623 km | 114 km STAGE 10
11 Thursday, january 12, 2023 SHAYBAH > EMPTY QUARTER MARATHON 426 km | 275 km STAGE 11
12 Friday, january 13, 2023 EMPTY QUARTER MARATHON > SHAYBAH 375 km | 185 km STAGE 12
13 Saturday, january 14, 2023 SHAYBAH > AL-HOFUF 669 km | 154 km STAGE 13
14 Sunday, january 15, 2023 AL-HOFUF > DAMMAM 414 km | 136 km STAGE 14

Find out more here.