PICTURES: Stunning desert vistas and action at 2026 Dakar Rally
The 48th edition of the Dakar Rally, the world’s most demanding off-road endurance race, is unfolding across the sweeping deserts and rugged terrain of Saudi Arabia.
Ford Racing’s US driver Mitch Guthrie and US co-pilot Kellon Walch compete in the Stage 6 of the 48th edition of the Dakar Rally 2026, between Hail and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 9, 2026. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)
The Dakar Rally started on the 3rd of January and is making it’s way from the Red Sea coast in Yanbu, covering 8 000km loop of challenging landscape, to finish back in Yanbu on Saturday.
Here we bring you some photographic highlights from the ultimate rally-raid.
Argentinian rider Luciano Benavides competes with a Ktm 450 Rally Factory in Stage 9, a marathon stage, during the 48th edition of the Dakar Rally 2026 between Wadi ad-Dawasir and Bisha in Saudi Arabia on January 13, 2026. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Ford Racing’s Spanish driver Carlos Sainz inspects his car at the end of the Stage 9, a marathon stage, of the 48th edition of the Dakar Rally 2026, between Wadi ad-Dawasir and Bisha, Saudi Arabia, on January 13, 2026. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Mattias Ekstrom and Emil Bergkvist in action during the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2026, on January 13, 2026 between Wadi Ad-Dawasir and Bivouac Refuge, Saudi Arabia. Picture: Florent Gooden / DPPI via AFPSebastien Loeb and Edouard Boelanger in action during the Stage 7 of the Dakar 2026, on January 11, 2026 between Riyadh and Wadi Ad-Dawasir, Saudi Arabia. Picture: Florent Gooden / DPPI via AFPGert Huzink, Hugo Kupper and Mario Kress in action during the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2026, on January 13, 2026 between Wadi Ad-Dawasir and Bivouac Refuge, Saudi Arabia. Picture: Frederic Le Floc’h / DPPI via AFPCamels run away as Toyota Gazoo Racing W2rc’s South African driver Henk Lategan and South African co-pilot Brett Cummings compete in the Stage 5 of the 48th edition of the Dakar Rally 2026, between Al-Ula and Hail, Saudi Arabia, on January 8, 2026. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Guillaume Jaunin in action during the Stage 8 of the Dakar 2026, on January 12, 2026 around Wadi Ad-Dawasir, Saudi Arabia. Picture: Antonin Vincent / DPPI via AFPThe Dacia Sandriders’s French driver Sebastien Loeb and French co-pilot Edouard Boulanger take part in repairing their car at the end of the Stage 9, a marathon stage, of the 48th edition of the Dakar Rally 2026, between Wadi ad-Dawasir and Bisha, Saudi Arabia, on January 13, 2026. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Md Rallye Sport’s French driver Simon Vitse and French co-pilot Max Delfino compete in the Stage 6 of the 48th edition of the Dakar Rally 2026, between Hail and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 9, 2026. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Dutch rider Ian Olthof competes with a Honda Crf 450 in the Stage 6 of the 48th edition of the Dakar Rally 2026, between Hail and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 9, 2026. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Neels Theric in action during the Stage 8 of the Dakar 2026, on January 12, 2026 around Wadi Ad-Dawasir, Saudi Arabia. Picture: Antonin Vincent / DPPI via AFP
