Overview
- The rally runs January 3–17 with a start and finish in Yanbu on an approximately 8,000 km loop featuring 13 stages plus a prologue.
- Timed competition covers nearly 5,000 km, a load rally director David Castera says the event has not matched in years.
- Marathon stages without external assistance are scheduled for January 7–8 between Alula and Hail and for January 13–14 between Wadi Ad‑Dawasir and Bisha.
- A rest day is planned in Riyadh, with six bivouacs and four loop stages set to streamline caravan logistics.
- Entries list 812 participants, with France leading national totals, Spain on 114, and the reported return of Stéphane Peterhansel competing with Land Rover.