On the back of the busiest sporting year Saudi Arabia has ever had, punctuated by news of the nation’s successful 2034 FIFA World Cup bid, the 2025 calendar is looking equally packed with world-class competition. Kicking off with the Dakar Rally in January, the Kingdom will host many of the biggest names in sport over the next 12 months, welcoming the world’s leading athletes across a range of events. Here, Al Arabiya English explores what sporting events will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2025. JanuaryDakar Rally (Jan. 3-17): The sporting year begins again with the 2025 Dakar Rally, which is being hosted in Saudi Arabia for the sixth year in a row. The 2025 route starts in the southwestern town of Bisha, in Asir province, and will see drivers traverse the Kingdom’s vast Empty Quarter through 12 stages, before reaching the finish line in Shubaytah. For more Saudi sports news, visit our dedicated page.The motorsport extravaganza will be contested across six categories – Bikes, Cars,