“Urkod” Rankings: The Top Marathons in the Arab World
Editor's Note
The most important marathons in the Arab world were ranked based on information available on the official websites of these races and from reliable media sources. The races were divided into two categories: elite races and community races. Website Run does not give preference to any race over another, and the website reserves the right to update this ranking based on any new data in the future.
Now Running as Sports In the Arab world, is no longer limited to runners registered with sports federations. Thanks to social media and the spread of the Internet, running has become widespread in our Arab cities, encompassing all segments of society—young and old, women and men. Among the fastest half Marathon From the beaches of Ras al-Khaimah to the 50,000 runners filling the streets of Riyadh, and from the Andalusian history of Marrakesh to the Pharaonic pyramids of Giza, our Arab region has become an attractive running destination for runners from around the world.
In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of the most important marathons in the Arab world for the 2026 season, featuring verified statistics from official sources and clear analysis to help you choose your next race.
First: Elite Races
These races attract the world’s top runners, offer generous prize money, and are officially recognized by World Athletics. Whether you’re looking to set a personal best or watch the world’s fastest races up close, here are the races worth adding to your shortlist.
- Dubai Marathon — United Arab Emirates
Date: February 1, 2026
Distances: 42.2 km — 10 km — 4 km
Participants: 20,000 participants—a record number, including 4,000 in the marathon
Prize Money: $80,000 for first place — paid out through 10th place
Category: Gold Label — International Association of Athletics Federations
The oldest international marathon in the Middle East celebrated its 25th edition this year. The race starts near the Madinat Jumeirah resort and runs along Jumeirah Beach Road, which overlooks the sea. In 2026, Ethiopian Nebrit Milak won the race in his first marathon with a time of 2:04:00 — the sixth consecutive runner to win the Dubai Marathon in his first Race ever
- ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon — United Arab Emirates
Date: December 12, 2026
Distances: 42.2 km — 21.1 km — 10 km — 5 km — 2.5 km
Participants: 37,000 (2025) — 40,000+ expected in 2026
Prize Money: More than $300,000
Category: Featured Category — International Association of Athletics Federations
The largest in terms of number of participants in the United Arab Emirates. It starts at Zayed Sports City and passes by Abu Dhabi’s most prominent landmarks, including ADNOC headquarters, the Abu Dhabi Corniche, Qasr Al Hosn, and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It includes a special category for people with disabilities and a two-person relay race.
- Riyadh Marathon — Saudi Arabia
Date: January 31, 2026
Distances: 42.2 km — 21.1 km — 10 km — 4 km
Participants: 50,000 participants from 125 countries
Prize Money: Not officially announced
Category: Featured Category — International Association of Athletics Federations
The largest on the list in terms of the number of participants, with 50,000 runners from 125 countries. The first official marathon in Saudi Arabia, launched in 2022, received a Gold Label from World Athletics from its very first edition. It starts at King Saud University and takes place on two closed circuits. It is a clear manifestation of Vision 2030’s commitment to promoting community sports.
- Ooredoo Doha Marathon — Qatar
Date: January 15, 2027
Distances: 42.2 km — 21.1 km — 10 km — 5 km
Participants: 20,000 participants from 160 countries — including 2,200 international participants
Cash Prize: More than one million Qatari riyals
Category: Gold Label — International Association of Athletics Federations
Now in its 14th edition, the Doha Marathon brought together runners from 160 countries along the Doha Corniche. What sets it apart: All proceeds from registration fees go to local charities. It features a special category for Qatari runners and a race specifically for children with autism.
Second: Community Races
These races build a running community before they build statistics. They don’t offer huge cash prizes, but they do offer the rich history, the warmth of the place, and the feeling that you’re running in a city you know and love.
- Beirut International Marathon — The Lebanese Republic
Date: November 29, 2026
Distances: 42.2 km — 21.1 km — 10 km — 5 km
Participants: Over 20,000 participants from 109 countries
Prize Money: $42,000
Category: Silver Category — International Association of Athletics Federations | Asia Marathon Premier League
Since 2003, the Beirut International Marathon has stood as a testament to how sports can bring people together in the face of political divisions. In a country with eighteen religious communities and diverse political backgrounds, this marathon brings together tens of thousands of runners from more than one hundred nationalities at a single starting line, along a single course, and to a single finish line.
The course starts at the Beirut Waterfront on General Wissam al-Hassan Street and winds its way through Beirut’s historic neighborhoods to Martyrs’ Square. The race is certified by World Athletics and is a founding member of the Asia Premier Marathon League. Beirut has weathered many wars and crises, yet it has remained—and will continue to remain—a city pulsing with life and sports; this alone makes the Beirut Marathon a landmark event, not just a race.
- Egypt International Marathon — Luxor, Arab Republic of Egypt
Date: January 8, 2027 (Issue 34)
Distances: 42.2 km — 22.289 km — 12.336 km — 5 km
The oldest marathon in Africa and the Middle East—33 consecutive years in the land of the Pharaohs. This extraordinary marathon starts in front of the ancient Temple of Queen Hatshepsut on the west bank of the Nile in Luxor, passing by the famous Colossi of Memnon, the Temple of Hapu, and the Valley of the Kings. Each step takes you through thousands of years of civilization.
The race is certified by World’s Major Marathons—Abbott—as a qualifying race, allowing participants to earn points toward qualifying for the World’s Major Marathons. The mild January temperatures, the flat course, and the historic sights along the route combine to create an experience you won’t find at any other race on Earth.
- Marrakech International Marathon — Kingdom of Morocco
Date: January 25, 2026 (Issue 36)
Distances: 42.2 km — 21.1 km
Participants: 12,000+ participants
Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Marrakech International Marathon has been held since 1986—making it one of the oldest marathons on the African continent and in the Arab world. The flat, fast course passes by the ancient city walls, which date back to the 12th century, the Menara Gardens, and alleys lined with palm, olive, and orange trees. The Marrakech Marathon is not just a race; it is a complete historical and cultural experience.
- Muscat Marathon — Sultanate of Oman
Date: January 23-24, 2026
Distances: 42.2 km — 21.1 km — 10 km — 5 km
Participants: Thousands of participants from more than 100 countries
Since 2012, the Muscat Marathon has grown from a local challenge into an international running festival. The course runs along Muscat’s waterfront, featuring its famous Corniche, set against one of the region’s most beautiful natural backdrops. It aligns with Oman’s Vision 2040 for the development of sports tourism.
- Amman International Marathon- Jordan
Date: October 2, 2026
Distances: 42.2 km — 21.1 km — 10 km
Participants: Not officially announced
The national race organized by Urkod.com, hosted by Run Jordan—Jordan’s leading running organization—starts in downtown Amman and passes through one of the most important historical sites in the Arab world: the ancient Roman amphitheater. The largest and oldest marathon in Jordan brings together local runners and visitors to Jordan for an experience that reflects the warmth of the capital and the diversity of its running community.
- Bahrain Marathon — Kingdom of Bahrain
Organizer: Road Runners Bahrain
Date: To be announced — 2026
Participants: To be announced
Organized by Road Runners Bahrain, the region’s oldest running club, founded in 1974—more than five decades ago. Road Runners Bahrain is not just a race organizer; it is a community organization that has held more than 80 events and has thousands of members. In 2016, it donated 21,000 Bahraini dinars to the sickle cell anemia community. For Road Runners, running is more than just a sport.
Last Words
What unites these marathons is not their 42 kilometers; what unites them is something greater, deeper, and more enduring than mere numbers. They are united by a shared language, culture, and history; they are united by the spirit, pride, and hospitality that characterize our societies.
From the 50,000 runners in Riyadh, to the ancient walls of Marrakesh—which have borne witness to the excellence of Maghreb runners since 1986—to the Pharaonic temples of Luxor, which have welcomed runners for thirty-three years, to the Beirut Corniche, which has never stopped hosting runners even in the toughest of times, to the beaches of Muscat and the neighborhoods of Amman. Our Arab world does not lack runners; it only lacks those who tell their stories in their own words and in the Arabic language.
Urkod.com---The Running Platform in The Arab World | May 2026
See also
Sebastian Soi and the Two-Hour Barrier: What Does This Mean to You as an Amateur Arab Runner – Urkod
