The Doha Marathon by Ooredoo will welcome 25,000 runners on January 15, 2027, with a new 42km route, team relay and expanded race categories designed to bring more people into the event.
Announcing details of its 15th edition, organisers said the marathon will feature a redesigned full-marathon course running from Sheraton Hotel Park along Doha’s Corniche and past landmarks including the Amiri Diwan, Old Doha Port and Souq Waqif, without any loops.
Sabah Rabiah al-Kuwari, senior marketing and communications executive and vice-chairman of the Doha Marathon by Ooredoo Committee, said the event had continued to grow from its community roots into an internationally recognised marathon.
“This year we are celebrating the 15th edition of the Doha Marathon by Ooredoo,” he told Gulf Times. “We will have more than 25,000 runners, with more than 3,000 international runners who will come just for the marathon.”
The new route is among several changes intended to enhance both the competitive and spectator experience as organisers work towards achieving World Athletics Platinum Label status.
The marathon currently holds World Athletics Gold Label status for the third consecutive year.
For the first time, runners will also be able to complete the full marathon distance as a team through the new 42km Relay Race.
Teams of 3-4 runners will each complete designated sections of the course, allowing participants to experience the marathon distance collectively.
“We established a new course of the full marathon,” al-Kuwari said. “In addition to that, this year we are having also the team relay race which will be in the full marathon category.”
The event will also expand its focus on participation across different ages and abilities.
Six race categories will be available: the Full Marathon, 42km Relay Race, Half Marathon, 10km, 5km, and Family Run.
The Family Run will allow children aged 4-10 to participate alongside a parent or guardian.
The Blue Race will return for its second year, providing a dedicated race experience for children with autism, while the new Yellow Race will cater specifically to individuals with visual impairments.
Dedicated participation will also be available for elderly runners.
Al-Kuwari said community participation remained a key focus of the marathon.
“We are continuing focusing on community and doing some stuff for the Blue Race to focus more on the autism kids,” he said, adding that organisers were also “focusing on the whole family category in the marathon”.
The 15th edition will introduce further recognition for Arab runners through a new dedicated category.
Qatari participants will continue to compete in Al Adaam category, while runners in the Arab category can also remain eligible for the overall open competition.
The scale of the event has grown considerably.
The 2026 edition attracted more than 20,000 runners representing 160 nationalities, including 2,200 international participants travelling from outside Qatar.
Olympic champion Tamirat Tola also set a new course record of 2:05:40.
The 2027 marathon is expected to build on that international participation, with organisers positioning the event as both a competitive race and a platform for community engagement.
The Marathon Village will return with an expanded layout, offering enhanced facilities, entertainment, interactive activities and services for runners and spectators.
