Dakar Rally Saudi-Arabia stage by stage 28.12.2019: Jeddah Administrative and technical checks 2-4/01/2020 Assistance and race briefing 03/01/2020 Start podium and closed park 04/01/2020 1st stage 05/01/2020 Rest day 11/01/2020 Riyadh

Jeddah Administrative and technical checks 2-4/01/2020



Assistance and race briefing 03/01/2020



Start podium and closed park 04/01/2020



1st stage 05/01/2020



Rest day 11/01/2020 Riyadh



Last stage, podium and closing ceremony 17/01/2020 Qiddiyah







The route of the first edition of the Dakar in Saudi Arabia explores the vast expanses of the largest country in the Middle East. The drivers and crews will be facing a total of 7,500 km, including 5,000 km of specials, five of them longer than 450 km. In a country where the desert is king, 75% of the rally will be over sand… all types of sand.











DAKAR RALLY 2020

JANUARY 5 th 17 th



#Dakar2020







1 5/01 - Jeddah stage

Jeddah > Al Wajh, 752 km - SS: 319 km





The opening stage is far from a stroll in the park. It features everything that makes up this rally in quick succession: fast, winding, dunes, stones. With all this variety, this mini-Dakar is not to be underestimated.









2 6/01 - Red Sea Project stage

Al Wajh > Neom, 401 km - SS: 367 km





Mostly made up of tracks, this day’s challenge is technically accessible. But you start to get a feel for what makes Saudi navigation particularly difficult. It is time to learn to trust new landmarks, when multiple tracks lead to confusion.





For bikes and quads, this is also the first part of the “Super Marathon” stage.









3 7/01 - Neom stage

Neom > Neom, 489 km - SS: 404 km





The circuit from the future megacity of Neom is a real gem. Taking competitors to the border with Jordan, the rally offers a series of canyons and mountains to explore on a carpet of sand. During this special stage, the Dakar will reach its highest point, at an altitude of 1,400 metres.









4 8/01 - Wadi Al Disah stage

Neom > Al Ula, 676 km - SS: 453 km





On the agenda this day you will find equal parts sandy stretches and gravel sections, mostly on tracks. However, do not confuse speed with precipitation, as the arduous navigation will require some clear choices. History buffs will be keen to get their cameras out as they pass close to Nabatean temples.









5 9/01 - Ha’il stage

Al Ula > Ha’il, 563 km - SS: 353 km





In the sandy surroundings of the day, humongous rocks will serve as landmarks to avoid costly navigation mistakes! Less technical but just as impressive as dunes, gigantic sandy hills stand to attention in front of the drivers. The descents,

occasionally scattered with desert grass, will require even more advanced driving skills.











6 10/01 - Qassim stage

Ha’il > Riyadh, 830 km - SS: 478 km





The change of scenery is dramatic. This time, the special stage is 100% sand, entirely off-road. After a relatively fast first section, obstacle experts will have the advantage in the dunes. Drivers having previously honed their skills in the Sahara desert will certainly have the upper hand. Then it will be time to rest.











11/01 - Riyadh - Rest day









7 12/01 - Riyadh stage

Riyadh > Wadi Al-Dawasir, 741 km - SS: 546 km





The resumption will be the opposite of a rest day… the longest stage in the Dakar and also one of the most varied.

Dunes are scattered along the entire route and the drivers will have to cross small dune fields of a few kilometres.



Between these climbing portions, off-road alternates with sectors with numerous crossings where the navigators will have to be on their toes at all times. Fast… but not too fast!









8 13/01 - Wadi Al-Dawasir stage

Wadi Al-Dawasir > Wadi Al-Dawasir , 713 km - SS: 474 km





The day’s loop is an opportunity to head south, where the competitors will find mountain landscapes, canyons and surprising colour contrasts: black stones on white sand, for example…



Pure speed freaks will get what they want with a 40 km straight line, foot to the floor, while the few dune fields of the day will demand considerable dexterity.













9 14/01 - Haradh stage

Wadi Al-Dawasir > Haradh, 891 km - SS: 415 km





With this long stage, the Dakar prepares to enter the “Empty Quarter”. The main factor will be driving precision, this time with mainly hard ground and a number of rough portions for those who are not careful enough. On reaching Haradh, built around oil and agriculture, the rally enters a new phase.









10 15/01 - Marathon stage

Haradh > Shubaytah, 608 km - SS: 534 km





The marathon stage demands the ultimate quality in rally racing: endurance. The special in the first part sends the drivers and crews out into the vast off-road expanses of the Empty Quarter.



It’s not a place where you should linger, as the route for the last 30 kilometres goes right through the dunes. And night falls in a flash!



On arrival, only assistance between competitors is authorised.













11 16/01 - ‘‘Empty Quarter’’ stage

Shubaytah > Haradh, 744 km - SS: 379 km





Keep your eyes peeled as the day begins with a spectacle that lasts for 80 kilometres: the finest dunes of the country. Over such a distance, the risk of lingering too long on a mound of sand to take in the sights is real.



The competitors will then follow in the footsteps of the first black gold prospectors who explored the region. The marathon stage comes to a close.









12 17/01 - Qiddiyah stage

Haradh > Qiddiyah, 447 km - SS: 374 km





Composure will be a trusted ally on this final stage, where the positions at the top of the classification can still change. The last hundred kilometres will give the navigators just as many headaches as in the previous week.



But the finish line is not far! A 20 km special section, with no impact on the general classification, will also select the winner of the “Qiddiyah Trophy”, immediately before climbing onto the final podium.













- ASO - photos ASO DPPI