24H Dubai Relocated to Kyalami as F1 2026 Finale Uncertainty Persists

The 24H Dubai endurance race will be relocated to South Africa's Kyalami circuit in 2027, with organisers citing "ongoing uncertainty within the Gulf region" and its impact on logistics and transport planning. The news comes as Formula 1 continues to weigh the fate of its 2026 season-ending races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Why it matters:

The Middle East's volatility is now reshaping motorsport calendars well beyond F1. Creventic, which runs the 24H series, has postponed all planned Middle Eastern races to the 2027-28 campaign, including the Yas 12 Hours at Yas Marina Circuit. For F1, the same instability already forced the Bahrain Grand Prix to move to Sepang, and could ultimately decide where the 2026 championship concludes.

The Details:

• The 24H Dubai will take place from 8-10 January at Kyalami, a venue with deep F1 history as the home of the South African Grand Prix.
• This marks Creventic's first visit to the African continent.
• The FIA also cancelled the 2026 World Rally Championship finale in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the regional disruption.
• F1 has yet to confirm whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead in November and December. Stefano Domenicali has suggested Imola as a possible replacement for the season finale.

What's next:

The 2027 F1 calendar still includes Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but the 2026 season remains in flux. The relocation of a major endurance event is a practical reminder that planning around the Gulf is increasingly difficult. An official F1 decision on the final rounds is expected soon, with Imola waiting in the wings.