Riyadh Marathon
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · January · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Water every 2.5 km (1.6 mi), plus fruit and isotonic drink every 10 km (6.2 mi).
- Large marathon village, pacers and a clear race guide in 2026.
- Fee SAR 119 to 199 (about $32 to 53) with shirt, bag and medal.
- World Athletics Elite Label race; women run alongside men.
Watch out for
- Few spectators and a plain route in reviews.
- Finish temperature reached 27 °C (81 °F) in 2026.
- Bag drop and taxi drop-off were 2 km (1.2 mi) apart in 2025.
- eVisa with insurance costs about 93 euro; hotels are pricey.
- The 2026 marathon sold out, and the route and start have changed between editions.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.5
An experienced German marathoner called it strong value for capital and country collectors. Two Louisiana runners in 2022 felt welcome and safe. Few other accounts. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
The 2026 reviewer praised the race guide, large village, pacers and water every 2.5 km (1.6 mi). Complaints: a cumbersome bag collection. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
6 hour cutoff, mostly flat and good aid, but a 06:25 start, a visa with insurance, and 27 °C (81 °F) by the 2026 finish. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.7
Elite records are 2:06:27 (men) and 2:24:30 (women). A half marathon runner found it less flat than expected, and 2026 reached 27 °C (81 °F). · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant2.5
A 2025 half marathon runner called the course fairly dull, with a mosque as the main highlight. The marathon uses a campus and straight avenues. · Low confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.4
Two laps of the half marathon course; 771 marathon finishers share it with a much larger half marathon field. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.0
Paved urban roads and wide avenues. No runner reported surface problems. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.8
Urban avenues for an elite label race with about 29,000 participants. Runners did not describe closures. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat4.1
Reported gain of 95 to 142 m (312 to 466 ft), though a half marathon runner found it less flat than expected. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Laps on an urban loop, so no net drop. Boston qualifying status is not confirmed. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.2
06:25 start with mandatory bib collection the day before. Bag collection was cumbersome and taxis dropped runners about 2 km (1.2 mi) away in 2025. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.9
The 2026 reviewer praised the pacers. Other runners did not comment on timing. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse2.0
A 2025 reviewer reported very few spectators on the route. The start and finish area had music and photo spots. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Water every 2.5 km (1.6 mi), bananas, dates and isotonic drink every 10 km (6.2 mi), and medical teams about every 2 km (1.2 mi). · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.4
No runner mentioned wind. Wide open avenues, so no shelter is likely. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.3
Late-January lows run 8 to 16 °C (46 to 61 °F). In 2026 it reached 27 °C (81 °F) at the finish. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Dry winter, but the finish temperature swung from 13 °C (55 °F) in 2025 to 27 °C (81 °F) in 2026. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
The start and finish area is easy for spectators; elsewhere few watch. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow3.8
Riyadh sits about 610 m (2,000 ft) above sea level, enough to matter slightly. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Recommended bases near Kingdom Arena or in Al Olaya. One runner booked near the original start and the route then moved. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.8
The 2026 reviewer found hotels the main high cost, while food and transport were cheap. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.6
Metro and cheap taxis serve the area, but taxis dropped runners 2 km (1.2 mi) from the bag drop in 2025. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.6
A 90 day eVisa with mandatory insurance cost about 93 euro. International flights are available. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Bib collection the day before is mandatory, only transparent gear bags are allowed, and the reviewer found bag collection cumbersome. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.3
Food is inexpensive and the cultural experience is the draw for the 2026 reviewer. Little race-week food detail. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inEasy3.6
The 2026 marathon sold out before registration closed, with only about 800 starters. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.0
Fee SAR 119 to 199 (about $32 to 53) includes shirt, bag and medal; the 2026 reviewer called value strong. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Riyadh, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
- Typical month
- January
- Latest or next date
- 31 January 2026
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 771 athletes
- First held
- 2022
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- laps
- Start time
- 06:25
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Surface
- Paved urban roads
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $42
- Air temperature
- 8–27 °C (46–81 °F)
- Humidity
- dry
- Altitude
- 610 m (2,000 ft)
- Nearest airport
- King Khalid International (RUH)
- Where to stay
- Al Olaya, Hittin
- Booking
- Stay near Kingdom Arena or Al Olaya. Confirm the start area before booking since the route has moved.
What racers and reviewers say
- HDsports (Riyadh Marathon 2026 report)Raced 2026 · blog · Positive
An experienced marathoner finished in 5:01:41 among 771 finishers from over 50 nations. Water every 2.5 km (1.6 mi), fruit and isotonic drink every 10 km (6.2 mi), medics about every 2 km (1.2 mi). It passed 20 °C (68 °F) by mid-morning and reached 27 °C (81 °F) at the finish. Praised the guide, village and pacers; disliked bag collection; value strong, hotels dear.
“suits runners collecting countries or capitals”
- The Advocate (first Riyadh Marathon, 2022)Raced 2022 · article · Positive
Two American women ran the 2022 marathon, finishing in just under 5 hours and just under 6 hours. They felt comfortable and safe, wore loose athletic clothing and said locals were hospitable; a Saudi runner helped one finish after she stopped near 15 miles (24 km). Little course detail.
“We were surprised by just how hospitable everyone was”
- RaceRaves (Riyadh Marathon, 1 review)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
One rating of 4.0 (production 5, scenery 2, difficulty 2), for the 2025 half marathon, so venue only. The course was fairly dull with few spectators, less flat than expected, cool (about 7 °C (45 °F), 45 °F at 08:00 and 13 °C (55 °F), 55 °F at the finish), with water every 2 to 3 km (1.2 to 1.9 mi). Taxis dropped runners about 2 km (1.2 mi) from the bag drop.
“fantastic experience despite the logistical stress”
- The 5K Runner (2026 runner guide)Raced 2026 · article · neutral
Planning guide: two laps of the half course, about 142 m (466 ft) gain, 06:25 elite start with waves, start temperatures near 12 to 15 °C (54 to 59 °F), mandatory bib pickup the day before and an eVisa. Enthusiastic and promotional, so treated as a guide.
- Arab News (2023 race report)Raced 2023 · article · neutral
Winners Meseret Abebayehu (2:24:30) and Jouaher Samir; a runner quoted calls the two-lap route very difficult. Reports the route passing Mrsool Park and Flag Square.
Raced Riyadh Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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