Dhofar’s first full marathon to take runners across Salalah

SALALAH: Dhofar will stage its first full-distance marathon in December, with runners taking on a 42.2-km course through Salalah as the governorate expands its sporting and tourism calendar beyond the Khareef season.

Dhofar Marathon 2026 will run from December 17 to 19, culminating in the main race at 6 am on December 19, according to the official event programme.

The three-day programme will begin on December 17 with the opening of the marathon village, runner registration and an exhibition, alongside live entertainment, recreational and sporting activities, food and beverage outlets and activities for participants and visitors.

December 18 will be dedicated to families and children, including a children’s race, family activities and final preparations for the main event.

The full marathon will start at 6 am on December 19, with individual runners and relay teams covering a course through the streets of Salalah before returning to the Dhofar Municipality headquarters for the finish and awards ceremony.

Dr Ahmed bin Mohsen Al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, said the event forms part of the municipality’s broader focus on public health and quality of life, alongside programmes aimed at encouraging physical activity and healthier lifestyles.

He said the marathon also carries a tourism dimension by attracting runners from Oman and abroad and introducing participants to Dhofar’s tourism and natural attractions.

The December timing gives the event added significance for the governorate’s tourism calendar. Coming several months after the Khareef peak, the marathon adds a participatory sporting event to Salalah’s winter season and creates another potential draw for visitors outside Dhofar’s traditional high season.

Ammar bin Awadh Ghawas, Director of Events and Awareness at Dhofar Municipality, said the race had been designed to offer participants a complete sporting experience while reflecting the environmental, visual and historical character of Salalah.

The event will offer three formats.

Individual runners can compete over the full 42.2-km distance, while two-person relay teams will divide the course into two 21.1-km legs. Four-person teams will each run approximately 10.5 km, a format aimed at widening participation among companies, clubs and groups as well as individual runners.

The route will pass through several of Salalah’s prominent areas and landmarks, including Ittin, Sultan Qaboos Road, Al Haffa Souq, Al Baleed Archaeological Park and Dahariz, combining the sporting challenge with exposure to different parts of the city.

Al Ghassani said cooperation between the municipality, government institutions and the private sector was important in organising sporting events whose objectives extend beyond competition to promoting physical activity, public health and tourism.

Prize money has been allocated across several categories. The winners of the men’s and women’s open/professional marathon categories will each receive RO2,000, with prizes extending to fifth place.

Separate prizes have been allocated for Omani runners, with RO700 for first place, RO500 for second and RO300 for third, in addition to awards for the relay categories.

Registration is priced at RO35 for the individual marathon, RO40 for a two-person relay team and RO45 for a four-person team.

Beyond the competition itself, the three-day format broadens the event into a community and visitor programme, with the marathon village, children’s events and family activities surrounding the main race.

For Dhofar, the inaugural marathon also adds another element to efforts to develop year-round tourism, using sporting events to generate activity beyond the Khareef season and broaden Salalah’s appeal during the cooler winter months.