# Dust to Dust: Dakar Rally

> Dakar Rally transforms Saudi Arabia's Empty Quarter into a surreal race through deserts and camels.
- Title: Dust to Dust: Dakar Rally · Road & Track | Shortify
- Summary: Dakar Rally transforms Saudi Arabia's Empty Quarter into a surreal race through deserts and camels. The Dakar Rally races 5000 miles across Saudi Arabia's…
- Keywords: dakar rally, rub al khali, empty quarter, saudi arabia, land rover, defender d7x-r, camels, desert racing, cars, sports, Dust, Dakar
- Source: Road & Track — https://roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a73744001/dust-to-dust-volume-37
- Published: 2026-10-05T11:52:34+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: dakar rally, rub al khali, empty quarter, saudi arabia, land rover, defender d7x-r, camels, desert racing, cars, sports
## What is an erg
An erg is a sand sea, the most desert of deserts with near total lack of vegetation.
## Empty Quarter desert
Rubʿ al-Khali, the largest sand sea on Earth, covers 250,000 square miles in Saudi Arabia.
## Dakar Rally route
The rally covers 5000 miles annually, with 3000 miles timed special stages and 2000 miles public-road liaison stages.
## Dakar bivouacs
Dakar bivouacs support 421 vehicles and 300 support vehicles, with 4000 people per bivouac.
## Land Rover's role
Land Rover provides 70 vehicles including semis with spare parts, a machine shop, and on-site engineering for the Defender D7X-Rs.
## Camel herder encounter
A camel herder offers tea and hospitality, saying 'All men are brothers', but declines dinner.

> All men are brothers
## Dakar night sounds
Competitors roar over dunes at night, following competitors' tracks with headlight beams in the dark desert air.
## Desert landscape
The Empty Quarter features endless sand dunes, red sand, and weathered sandstone monoliths rising from the desert floor.
## Dakar's scale
Dakar bivouacs stay in one location for a single night, then move to the next location after racers head out each morning.
## Saudi Arabia's population
Saudi Arabia has a population density of 42 people per square mile, with Riyadh accounting for a fifth of the population.
## Key takeaway

The Dakar Rally races 5000 miles across Saudi Arabia's Empty Quarter desert, where competitors and camels share the same landscape.