UK-based rally organiser HERO-ERA has announced that the Badawï Trail to the Last Oasis will return in 2026, building on the success of the inaugural edition in 2023.
The rally kicks off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before embarking on an extended 8000km route that snakes through the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman. The 2026 instalment will be held from March 28 until April 16.
The journey will take 20 days to complete, and 11 of them will be spent traversing the diverse terrain of Saudi Arabia. According to HERO-ERA competition director Guy Woodcock, six of these 11 days will be spent exploring entirely new areas of the country. Unfortunately, the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas means that the rally will not be returning to Jordan.
Highlights of the epic route include the bustling cityscapes of Madinah and Riyadh, as well as the serene shores of the Red Sea. Participants will also have the opportunity to experience the ancient Nabatean treasures of Al Ula, and will visit iconic landmarks such as Jebel Akhdar and Muscat in Oman. The rally culminates in the UAE with a breathtaking climb of Jebel Jais – the UAE’s highest mountain – before a grand finish in Dubai.
The Badawï Trail joins an illustrious line-up of motor sport events in the region, including the Dakar Rally and several rounds of the Formula 1 World Championship. HERO-ERA’s Middle Eastern adventure seeks to build a connection between historic rallying and the region’s nascent motor-racing heritage.
“We want to cement a place as organising the most comprehensive desert endurance-rallying adventure for vintage and historic vehicles,” remarked HERO-ERA chairman Tomas de Vargas Machuca. “2023 showed what was possible here, and with the wonderful help from our new friends in the region, in 2026 we can build on that to offer a longer, more exciting and all-embracing rally.”
The rally comprises around 40 challenging Regularity Sections and 15 Sporting Sections, held in the ever-changing backdrops of deserts, mountains and coastlines. Eligibility is restricted to cars manufactured in 1976 or earlier.
The entry fee is currently £42,000 with the launch-week discount, and a deposit of £10,000 is required to secure your place on the rally. Crews with a driver aged 35 or younger will receive a 30 percent discount off the entry fee.
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