Next race
Friday, 15 January 2027
6:00 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Urban road
Elevation
Flat · 50 m gain
50 m climbing
Race profile
The Doha Marathon draws approximately 2,500 finishers on cool-season race days in Doha, Qatar. Winter timing is essential because it turns Gulf heat into manageable marathon weather. The route passes the Corniche, skyline districts, and long smooth boulevards beside Doha Bay. The course is very flat throughout.
Doha Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 2,500 finishers
Course & terrain
Starts and finishes on Doha's waterfront race roads. The route passes the Corniche, skyline districts, and long smooth boulevards beside Doha Bay. Very flat throughout.
The Doha Marathon course is flat over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 50 metres of climbing and 50 metres of descent, with minimal net elevation change from start to finish.
Registration
The Doha Marathon accepts open registration on the official website for races in January or February with no ballot or qualifying time. Sign-up typically opens several months beforehand through the organiser portal. International runners use the same online system.
Getting there
Doha International Airport (DIA)
5 km / 3 mi
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
8 km / 5 mi
Race footage
Common questions
Official resources
If you see something that looks out of date, please send us a note. Last reviewed 10 November 2026.
Close to this race
Other races closest to Doha.
The Abu Dhabi Marathon is a world-class elite event launched in 2018, attracting top international runners and a few thousand finishers on a fast desert-city course. The route passes the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque approach, the Corniche waterfront, and Yas Island connectors. December cool mornings and dead-flat terrain make it a record-eligible race in the UAE capital.
Next race: Saturday, 12 December 2026
The Dubai Marathon is one of the world's fastest elite marathons, with a tiny elite field chasing world-class times on a dead-flat desert-city course each January. Though finisher numbers are limited compared with mass-participation races, the event draws global attention for its prize money and record-eligible route along Dubai's modern highway corridors.
Next race: Sunday, 17 January 2027
Riyadh's multi-distance marathon festival, based at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. The official 2026 routes include a 42.195 km marathon, half marathon, 10 km and 5 km; the longer races use northern Riyadh roads and the shorter races stay on university roads. The 2027 date remains to be announced.
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
When a flat course helps your time, when hills are worth the view, and how to pick terrain that fits your training and goals.
How temperature, humidity, wind, and rain affect marathon performance — and how to use typical race-day weather when choosing a start line.
Pick a race that fits your goal — a PB, a city weekend, atmosphere, or a major — using course data and honest expectations.
