Oman Desert Marathon, 165 km across the Wahiba Sands
Wahiba Sands, from Al Wasil to the Arabian Sea
The 12th Oman Desert Marathon runs from 9 to 14 January 2027 in the Wahiba Sands. The 165 km race covers five self-supported stages from Al Wasil Fort to the Arabian Sea; on 10 January, family-friendly 21, 10, 5 and 2 km races also start from Al Wasil.
Dates
- 9 January 2027 – 14 January 2027 — 12th Oman Desert Marathon (arrival on 9 January, five stages from the 10th to the 14th; short races on the 10th)
Source: omandesertmarathon.com (officiel), programme — accessed 3 November 2026
A stage race through the dunes
The Oman Desert Marathon is a 165 km stage race across the Wahiba Sands, also known as the Sharqiya Sands, in the east of the country. Founded in 2013 by Said Al Hajri, now president of the Oman Athletics Association, it is held under the patronage of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. The route starts at Al Wasil Fort, where the dunes begin, follows old caravan trails and ends on the shore of the Arabian Sea.
The 12th edition takes place in January 2027: runners arrive on 9 January, race five stages from 10 to 14 January and leave on the 15th. The race is self-supported: each runner carries the mandatory kit, a sleeping bag and five days of food. The organisers provide water at checkpoints roughly every 10 km, and hot water at camp in the morning and evening.
Day-by-day programme
| Day | Programme, local time |
|---|---|
| Saturday 9 January | Welcome at Muscat Airport from 9 am to 11 am, shuttle at 11 am, bib collection at 4:30 pm, briefing at 6:30 pm |
| Sunday 10 January | Stage 1, start from Al Wasil Fort at 7:30 am; 21, 10, 5 and 2 km races the same morning |
| Monday 11 January | Stage 2, start at 6 am |
| Tuesday 12 January | Stage 3, start at 6:30 am |
| Wednesday 13 January | Stage 4, at night: wave starts at 3, 4 and 5 pm, slowest runners first |
| Thursday 14 January | Stage 5, start at 8 am, finish around 1 pm on the Arabian Sea; closing ceremony at 8:30 pm |
| Friday 15 January | Shuttles to the airport, the Grand Mosque and Mutrah Souq |
Cut-off times are set before each stage, depending on the heat and the times of the previous stage; the organisers say nobody has ever been excluded for missing one.
Races and entry fees
| Race | For whom | Entry fee |
|---|---|---|
| 165 km Classic, five self-supported stages | ultra runners | 1,680 US dollars; 1,470 for previous participants; 1,380 per person for groups of four or more |
| 100 km Hike, about 20 km a day on foot | walkers, beginners welcome | same fees as the 165 km |
| Bidiyah Half Marathon, 21 km | runners with some sand experience | 21 Omani rials, about 55 dollars |
| Al Mintrib Cross Country, 10 km | a first desert race | 10 rials, about 26 dollars |
| Al Wasil Family Run, 5 km, running or walking | all ages | 5 rials, about 13 dollars |
| Oman Kids Run, 2 km | ages 8 to 11 | free |
The short races start from Al Wasil Fort on 10 January at 7:30 am, the kids' race a little later; there is parking 200 m from the start. Registration is on the official website, omandesertmarathon.com.
Getting there and where to stay
Al Wasil is about 190 km from Muscat, just over two hours' drive from the airport, with no need for a 4x4. The race base camp is Bediya Green Homes, which has a pool; the organisers also book runners' families there at reduced rates and arrange their airport transfers for 100 rials return. Runners on the 165 km and 100 km get a direct shuttle from the airport on 9 January at around 11 am; other runners can take it for 10 rials, in cash.
For supporters, the desert camps are close by: Desert Nights Camp, near Al Wasil, Thousand Nights Camp and Canvas Club. The area is described on our Wahiba Sands page, and the guide a night in the desert in Oman helps you choose a camp.
In January, the average high is 28 °C at Bidiyah, on the edge of the sands. Two weeks later, the Muscat Marathon is run on 29 January in the capital, described on our Muscat page. Since the Iranian strikes in the Gulf, foreign ministries have not all given the same advice; the Oman travel situation guide has the details. Yours:
Your country's advice is shown in the box at the top of the page.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Oman Desert Marathon in 2027?
From 9 to 14 January 2027 according to the official programme: arrival on the 9th, five stages from the 10th to the 14th. The 21, 10, 5 and 2 km races are on 10 January.
Do runners carry their own food?
Yes, on the 165 km: each runner carries the mandatory kit, a sleeping bag and five days of food. Water is provided at checkpoints roughly every 10 km.
Can you take part without being an ultra runner?
Yes: the 100 km is done on foot at about 20 km a day, and the 21, 10, 5 and 2 km races take a single morning.
How much is the entry fee?
1,680 dollars for the 165 km and the 100 km, 21 Omani rials for the half marathon, 10 rials for the 10 km and 5 rials for the 5 km; the kids' race is free.
Do you need a 4x4 to get there?
No: Al Wasil, about 190 km from Muscat, can be reached in an ordinary car.