A new route across Abu Dhabi is set to reshape one of the world’s toughest rally raids for its 35th edition
The 35th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will start and finish in Al Ain for the first time, marking a new chapter for the iconic rally raid.
Taking place from 22–27 November 2026, the event will also serve as the final round of the World Rally-Raid Championship.
Organised by the Emirates Motorsports Organization (EMSO) with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the rally will connect Al Ain in the east with Al Dhafra in the west.
Madinat Zayed will become the event’s main bivouac, bringing the international paddock, teams and machinery into the heart of the city.
The competition opens in Al Ain on 22 November with a FIM Prologue before the field heads west into Abu Dhabi’s desert terrain.
A substantially revised route will take drivers and riders through different landscapes before the final competitive stage returns to Al Ain on 27 November.
The full route remains under wraps, with spectator zones and further bivouac activities to be revealed closer to the event.
The rally will then host the World Rally-Raid Championship’s end-of-season celebrations, putting Abu Dhabi at the centre of the 2026 championship finale.
For more details, visit abudhabidesertchallenge.com
