Riyadh Marathon

Typical schedule

Typically held on late January / winter; exact 2027 date to be announced

Distance

42.195 km / 26.2 mi

Urban road festival

Race profile

Overview

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.

Riyadh Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.

Weather: Cool winter mornings
8–19°C · humidity 35–55%
Marathon weather guide →

Course & terrain

Riyadh Marathon course

Course route details for race-week planning.

The marathon starts and finishes at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh. The official 42.195 km route map follows northern Riyadh roads including Prince Badr bin Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Road, Anas Ibn Malik Road, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq service road, Uthman bin Affan Road, and Thumamah Road. The organiser publishes the course as a route image on its website; do not infer turn-by-turn detail or elevation from the map alone.

Registration

Riyadh Marathon entry requirements

The Riyadh Marathon is a late-January multi-distance festival at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. Registration for the 2026 edition was through the official website; check riyadhmarathon.org when the 2027 date is announced.

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the Riyadh Marathon start and finish?: The marathon and half marathon start and finish at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh. The 5 km and 10 km races use routes on university roads.
When is the Riyadh Marathon?: The fifth edition was held on 31 January 2026. The 2027 date is to be announced (AIMS lists the race with no date yet). The festival is typically in late January; check the official website for the next edition.
What distances does the Riyadh Marathon festival include?: The official event includes 42.195 km, 21.0975 km, 10 km, and 5 km races. Contemporary reporting cited more than 50,000 runners across the multi-distance festival in 2026 — not a verified marathon-only finisher count.
What roads are on the Riyadh Marathon course?: Official route maps show the longer races on northern Riyadh roads including Prince Badr bin Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Road, Anas Ibn Malik Road, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq service road, Uthman bin Affan Road, and Thumamah Road, with shorter distances on university roads.

Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.

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Planning guides

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Riyadh Marathon

Overview

Riyadh Marathon course

Riyadh Marathon entry requirements

Riyadh Marathon travel

Frequently Asked Questions

Riyadh Marathon links

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