Salalah – Dhofar Municipality announced details of the Dhofar Marathon 2026, organised in collaboration with Middle East Global Event, on Monday.

The event will take place in Salalah from December 17 to 19 and will be the first full-distance marathon to be held in Dhofar. It will bring together runners from across Oman and abroad.

Dr Ahmed bin Mohsin Al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, said organising the marathon is part of the municipality’s strategy to diversify high-quality events and capitalise on the governorate’s rich natural and tourism assets.

He said the initiative would strengthen Dhofar’s position as a sports and tourism destination, support economic and tourism activity, and enhance Salalah’s presence on the international sports events calendar.

Al Ghassani said the marathon would add to a programme of events aimed at attracting participants and visitors from around the world by combining sports with tourism experiences that showcase Dhofar’s prominent natural and historical landmarks.

Ammar bin Awbad Ghawas, Director of the Events and Awareness Department at Dhofar Municipality, said the technical design of the marathon was aimed at providing participants with a comprehensive sports experience while highlighting the governorate’s visual, environmental and historical diversity.

The full marathon will cover 42.2km, starting at the Dhofar Municipality building. The route will pass Salalah Airport, Airport Street, Ittin Plain, Sultan Qaboos Road, Al Haffa and Al Baleed Archaeological Park before finishing at Al Dahariz Beach.

The route is designed to combine the challenge of long-distance running with an opportunity for participants to experience some of Salalah’s key landmarks.

In addition to the full marathon, the programme will feature a two-person relay, with each participant covering 21.1km, and a four-person relay, with each runner covering 10.5km. The programme will also include children’s races and family activities, catering to different age groups and fitness levels.

Mohammed Al Obaidani, Founder and CEO of Middle East Global Event, said the aim of Dhofar Marathon was to create an event that belongs to the governorate and reflects its identity.

He said the event was intended to go beyond organising a sports race by fostering a running culture that engages children and families as well as Omani and international athletes.