The Overdrive pilot held onto his overnight lead to beat South Africa's Henk Lategan in a Toyota by 3min 57sec with Mattias Ekstrom of Sweden third in his Ford, more than 20min adrift.

Rajhi, 43, had previously recorded a best finish of third in 2022.

Saudi Arabia have hosted the Dakar Rally since 2020, when it moved from South America.

"I am very, very happy to do it, it is not an easy race, it's the toughest one that I've done in the last eleven years," said Rajhi.

"For sure, we have made a lot of records today: the first Saudi driver to win and also in the last twenty-five years no private team beat a factory team but we did it this time.

"Also, it's the first time there is a winner on the Dakar from the same country in which it is raced, with a Saudi guy winning a Saudi Dakar."

There was also a first win in the world's most famous endurance rally for Australia's KTM rider Daniel Sanders in the motorbike category.