ALULA — The wait is nearly over for thousands of runners as the AlUla Trail Race 2026 officially kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, January 22. Set against the majestic backdrop of Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, the two-day event will challenge athletes of all levels to navigate a landscape shaped by millions of years of history.
The event begins tomorrow with a focus on community and preparation. Participants must collect their race packs at the Old Town Amphitheatre between 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM. The competitive action starts late tomorrow afternoon with the family-friendly 1.6km Kids Run at 4:40 PM, followed by the scenic 3km Sunset Run at 5:20 PM, which takes runners through the lush heart of the AlUla Oasis as the day turns to dusk.
The “main event” follows in the early hours of Friday, January 23, featuring four grueling distances:
- Hegra Hundred (100km): The ultimate ultra-marathon starting at 5:30 AM.
- AlMejdar (50km): A high-endurance test beginning at 7:00 AM.
- Elephant Rock (23km): A scenic route past AlUla’s most iconic formation starting at 8:00 AM.
- AlUla Oasis (10km): A fast-paced trail through heritage sites starting at 8:30 AM.
“We are thrilled to welcome athletes back to AlUla for our most ambitious trail race to date,” said Ziad AlSuhaibani, Chief Sports Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla. With over 40 nationalities represented, the 2026 edition is set to be the most diverse in the race’s history.