The route was described by organisers as slower, more varied, and more technical than previous editions. It comprised one prologue stage — used to set starting positions for Stage 1 — and 12 normal stages including two loop stages and one marathon stage, with a single rest day in Ha'il on 9 January. Stage 11 was shortened by 50 kilometres due to weather conditions, and Stage 6 was delayed and reduced by 100 kilometres after Stage 5 proved exceptionally difficult, causing many competitors to finish very late.
The road books were distributed to competitors only ten minutes before each stage start, a format designed to limit the preparation advantage enjoyed by the largest factory teams. A digital roadbook option was introduced for the first time. Speed limits were tightened across all categories in line with new FIA cross-country regulations: cars in the T1 and T2 classes were capped at 180 km/h, while T3, T4, and T5 vehicles were limited to 130 km/h. A new Dakar Classic class was introduced for vehicles manufactured before 2000, running on a parallel but separate route.
The 2021 edition brought several notable rule changes. Elite bikers faced new restrictions limiting them to one piston change and six rear tyres for the entire event, all from the same brand and model. Bikers were also prohibited from receiving assistance during refuelling stops. Safety upgrades included a mandatory first aid training certificate for all competitors, an automatic Sentinel sound warning system for level 2 and 3 hazards, and compulsory airbag vests for all motorcycle and quad riders.
For the first time, cars were permitted to run turbocharged petrol engines — previously, turbocharged installations had been restricted to diesel power. Prodrive was the first manufacturer to take advantage of this regulation change, debuting its new BRX Hunter car at the event.
The pandemic had wide-ranging effects on the 2021 edition. Border restrictions confined the route to Saudi Arabia alone, eliminating the planned multi-country itinerary. All participants were required to pass two coronavirus tests on arrival in Jeddah two days apart. Several competitors were forced to withdraw after testing positive, including riders Giordano Pacheco and Alexey Titov. Multiple teams also had to make last-minute changes to support staff and co-drivers before departure when personnel contracted the virus.
The 2021 rally was marked by a series of serious crashes across multiple stages. On Stage 4, CS Santosh riding the Hero 450 Rally suffered a high-speed crash with head injuries; fellow riders performed CPR until medical staff arrived, and Santosh was placed in an induced coma before scans later revealed no major long-term injuries beyond a dislocated shoulder.
Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux driver Henk Lategan crashed heavily on Stage 5 and was airlifted to hospital with a broken collarbone; co-driver Brett Cummings walked away uninjured.
Stage 7 brought two serious incidents. French rider Pierre Cherpin, riding a Husqvarna, crashed heavily at kilometre 178 and sustained head injuries. He was airlifted to hospital and placed in an induced coma. Olivier Susset collided with a buggy at kilometre 419 and was hospitalised with a suspected broken ankle and elbow. On 14 January 2021, Pierre Cherpin died while being transferred from Saudi Arabia to France.
Stage 8 saw Husqvarna riders Xavier de Soultrait and Maurizio Gerini both hospitalised; Gerini had suffered a heavy fall 30 kilometres from the finish but managed to complete the stage, later diagnosed with internal abdominal bleeding.
On Stage 9, three more bikers were airlifted. KTM rider Toby Price crashed at kilometre 155, suffering a broken collarbone, both wrists fractured, and extensive bruising. Honda's Luciano Benavides dislocated his shoulder at kilometre 242. Husqvarna's Maciej Giemza tore shoulder ligaments and suffered two foot fractures after hitting a rock at 110 km/h.
Stage 10 saw overnight leader José Ignacio Cornejo crash and later be forced to retire on medical grounds after examination revealed a concussion, despite completing the stage. On Stage 11, Honda's Juan Barreda Bort ran out of fuel after missing a refuelling point, waited over two hours for assistance, and was ultimately airlifted to hospital.
The 2021 Dakar Rally reinforced Saudi Arabia's position as the long-term home of the event following its continental shift away from South America, even as the COVID-19 pandemic shaped nearly every logistical and sporting dimension of the edition. The string of high-profile crashes prompted renewed discussion about rally safety standards, particularly regarding motorcycle competitor welfare.