– Another race falls victim to the politically unstable security situation in the Middle East. The traditional 24 Hours of Dubai will not take place in January 2027.
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As announced by the Dutch series organizer Creventic, the flagship of the 24h-Series will be removed from the calendar due to the ongoing uncertainty in the Gulf region and the associated unpredictable logistics and transport costs. The same applies to the 12-hour race planned in Abu Dhabi in December.
However, teams and drivers will not have to completely forgo the traditional endurance season opener in January: as a replacement, the organization presents a spectacular premiere on the African continent. On the planned race weekend from January 8 to 10, 2027, the 24h-Series will hold a 24-hour race for the first time in Kyalami, South Africa.
“Adjusting our long-standing Middle East calendar was an extremely difficult decision. We highly value our partnerships with the Dubai Autodrome and the Yas Marina Circuit and are grateful for their understanding,” explains Helen Roukens, General Manager at Creventic.
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“At the same time, we are incredibly excited to bring the 24h-Series to Kyalami for the first time. With its rich history, impressive facilities, and iconic track layout, Kyalami has all the ingredients for a very special event,” Roukens is convinced.
The crisis in the region around the Persian Gulf is affecting many racing series in the 2026 season. In the World Endurance Championship (WEC), races in Qatar and Bahrain were relocated to Barcelona and Monza, and the World Rally Championship (WRC) canceled the planned season finale in Saudi Arabia this week.
Formula 1 and MotoGP are currently still holding on to races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, scheduled for November and December, but it is uncertain whether they will actually take place. For Formula 1, an alternative season finale in Imola is already being discussed, after the originally planned Bahrain Grand Prix in March will be held in Sepang at the beginning of October.
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