The complete route of the Dakar 2025

The Dakar 2025, held entirely in Saudi Arabia, will pit the best rally-raid drivers in the world against each other at the beginning of January. Here is the complete route of this 47th edition, made up of several very difficult stages for the competitors.

For the sixth consecutive year, the Dakar is settling in Saudi Arabia. In the Arabian Peninsula, Carlos Sainz and Ricky Brabec will each try to retain their title in the car category and the motorcycle category, on a route different from what the participants experienced last year.

Where the 2024 Dakar started from the northwest of the country to reach the Red Sea and return to the west, the 2025 edition will start from the southwest to go back to the heart of Saudi Arabia and end on the shores of the Red Sea. A new route but with stages with a profile similar to what was seen during the last edition.

Dakar 2025: the detailed route of the 47th edition

The Dakar 2025 is made up of twelve stages as well as a prologue. Exclusively contested in Saudi Arabia, it connects Bisha, in the southwest of the peninsula, to Shubaytah in the southeast, not far from the border with the United Arab Emirates. In total, competitors in all categories will cover more than 7,700 km including 5,100 km of specials.

Prologue (29 km)

This 47th edition of the Dakar begins with a 29 km prologue around the Bisha start camp. This short special does not count for the general classification, but it allows the top ten in all categories to choose their starting position for the first stage, contested the next day. A significant advantage as it is difficult to open the road on the Dakar.

Stage 1 (412 km)

For the first real stage, the competitors will be entitled to 412 km of special, still around Bisha. This stage will offer a wide variety of terrain, with the exception of sand, which will force drivers to constantly adapt.

Stage 2 (965 km)

Experimented for the first time in 2024, the “48h chrono” will be back from the second stage of this Dakar. In two days, competitors will have to cover 965 km of special, with the obligation to stop at 5 p.m. at the end of the first day. They will then have to reach one of the six rest areas of the special, spend the night there without assistance and leave the next morning to complete the stage.

Stage 3 (496 km)

After four days of racing, the drivers will finally leave Bisha to head towards Al Henakiyah, with 496 km of special. By heading north, the bikers will be put to the test in particular in technical sections, before facing faster passages at the end of the stage.

Stage 4 (415 km)

The fourth stage will link Al Henakiyah to Alula, and will be the first part of the marathon stage of this Dakar 2025. On the program, 415 km of special and a passage through the majestic canyons of Al'Ula.

Stage 5 (428 km)

Continuation and end of the marathon stage with 428 km of special between Alula and Hail, the northernmost point of Saudi Arabia through which the competitors will pass. After a night without their mechanics, the competitors will have to fend for themselves to reach Hail and be careful of the sandy and rocky roads on their way.

Stage 6 (606 km)

After a day of rest, the only one of this 47th edition of the Dakar, the drivers will leave Hail towards Al Duwadimi. They will have to complete 606 km of special, on two very distinct terrains: first a sequence of stones, then a long section on all types of sand at the end of the day.

Stage 7 (481 km)

This seventh will take the competitors on a loop around Al Duwadimi, where they will be entitled to 455 km of special. Considered as one of the “truth stages” by the organizers of the Dakar, it could have serious consequences on the general classification.

Stage 8 (487 km)

During this eighth stage, the competitors will leave Al Duwadimi to reach Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. 483 km of special are planned to put even more torment on the drivers and their vehicles.

Stage 9 (357 km)

Exit the capital and head for the south of the Arabian Peninsula during the ninth stage, arriving in Haradh after 357 km of special. The route will be on fairly fast roads, which could force some to take risks to reduce the gaps.

Stage 10 (119 km)

After a long transfer to the “Quart Vide” desert, the competitors will face a short special stage of 119 km, but which nonetheless remains very dangerous. It will be necessary to tame this terrain where sand dunes reaching 250 m in height nestle, because each error could be fatal.

Stage 11 (280 km)

The competitors will continue to evolve in the desert of the “Quart Vide”, where the last three stages of this Dakar 2025 take place. Here again, the slightest error will be costly and the gaps built earlier in the race could be shattered.

Stage 12 (134 km)

The last stage of this 47th edition of the Dakar will offer a massive start to offer a grandiose spectacle in the desert. Once the last difficulties have been overcome, you will have to reach the finish line towards Shubaytah, thus completing the race after two intense weeks.

The complete program for the Dakar 2025

Friday January 3

• Prologue : End – End (29 km)

Saturday January 4

• Etape 1 : Bisha – Bisha (412 km)

Sunday January 5 – Monday January 6

• Stage 2: Bisha – Bisha (965 km)

Tuesday January 7

• Estep 3 : Bisha – Al Henakiyah (496 km)

Wednesday January 8

• Etape 4 : Al Henakiyah – Alula (415 km)

Thursday January 9

• Etape 5: Alula – Hail (428 km)

Friday January 10

Saturday January 11

• Etape 6 : Hail – Al Duwadimi (606 km)

Sunday January 12

• Stage 7 : Al Duwadimi – Al Duwadimi (481 km)

Monday January 13

• Etape 8 : Al Duwadimi – Riyadh (487 km)

Tuesday January 14

• Etape 9 : Riyadh – Haradh (357 km)

Wednesday January 15

• Etape 10 : Haradh – Shubaytah (119 km)

Thursday January 16

• Etape 11 : Shubaytah – Shubaytah (280 km)

Friday January 17

• Etape 12 : Shubaytah – Shubaytah (134 km)