Compiled and fact-checked by Tommo, Verus founder · Last verified August 2026 · Spot an error?
Running · Marathons
Riyadh Marathon 2027
- Race day
- Saturday, 30 January 2027
- Location
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Distance
- 26.2 mi / 42.2 km
Riyadh Marathon: expected 30 January 2027, from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, northern Riyadh. Entry, route and a pace chart.
Riyadh Marathon Race Timeline
142 days to go
More than 84 days out — a good window to build a consistent base before marathon-specific training ramps up.
Riyadh Marathon: quick answers
When is the next Riyadh Marathon?
The next date hasn't been published by the organiser yet. The most recent Riyadh Marathon was Saturday, 30 January 2027, and the race has usually run around the same point in the year.
Where does Riyadh Marathon start and finish?
Riyadh Marathon starts at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, northern Riyadh and finishes at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, northern Riyadh.
How many miles is Riyadh Marathon?
Riyadh Marathon is 26.2 miles (42.2km).
How much does Riyadh Marathon cost to enter?
Entry direct through the organiser — check riyadhmarathon.org for current pricing.
Key Race Metrics & Overview
- Date
- Saturday, 30 January 2027
- Distance
- 26.2 miles / 42.2km
- Location
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Start Point
- Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, northern Riyadh
- Finish Point
- Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, northern Riyadh
- Surface
- Road — a looped course, run twice for the marathon distance
Not published by the organiser at the time of writing: start time, cut-off time, age requirement, tracking app. Verus records these as unconfirmed rather than estimating them — check the official race website closer to race day.
Direct Entry Summary
Entry direct through the organiser — check riyadhmarathon.org for current pricing.
Ballot Policy
No ballot — entry is direct through Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA), with the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Arabian Athletics Federation.
Riyadh Marathon Race Day Weather
A real forecast appears here once one exists for race day — usually about a week to ten days out. Nothing is shown until then, because a made-up forecast is worse than none.
Riyadh Marathon Route Map & Elevation Profile
Starting at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, northern Riyadh and finishing at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, northern Riyadh. Total elevation gain is not published for this event, and Verus does not estimate one.
Is Riyadh Marathon flat?
No official elevation figure is published for this course, so Verus doesn't state one. The organiser describes the going as: road — a looped course, run twice for the marathon distance.
Riyadh Marathon Course Profile
Elevation change not published for this event.
Tap a point on the course for details.
Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, northern Riyadh
Start line.
Where Riyadh Marathon starts and finishes
Riyadh Marathon starts at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, northern Riyadh and finishes at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, northern Riyadh. We haven't been able to place those on a map accurately enough to show one — a pin in the wrong place is worse than no pin.
These are the start and finish points, not the route. Verus doesn't hold course files for this race, and drawing a line between two pins would be a guess you might end up training on.
Full Riyadh Marathon Route Breakdown
Saudi Arabia's flagship race and a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race every year since its 2022 launch — the January 2026 edition drew over 50,000 runners from 134 countries. Half marathon, 10K and a shorter family/fun category run alongside the marathon. The exact 2027 date wasn't officially confirmed at the time of writing; this is the annual late-January slot the race has settled into.
Riyadh Marathon Pace Calculator & Splits
Riyadh Marathon Pace Calculator
Enter a target finish time to see your pace and projected splits.
Average pace / mile
9:10
Average pace / km
5:42
Riyadh Marathon Pace Chart
Split markers calculated for standard checkpoints — no official pacers are confirmed for this event.
| Target | Pace /mi | Pace /km | 5K | 10K | Half Marathon | 30K | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | 6:52 | 4:16 | 21:21 | 42:41 | 1:30:04 | 2:08:04 | 3:00:00 |
| 3:15 | 7:27 | 4:37 | 23:07 | 46:15 | 1:37:34 | 2:18:44 | 3:15:00 |
| 3:30 | 8:01 | 4:59 | 24:54 | 49:48 | 1:45:05 | 2:29:25 | 3:30:00 |
| 3:45 | 8:35 | 5:20 | 26:41 | 53:22 | 1:52:35 | 2:40:05 | 3:45:00 |
| 4:00 | 9:10 | 5:42 | 28:28 | 56:55 | 2:00:05 | 2:50:46 | 4:00:00 |
| 4:15 | 9:44 | 6:03 | 30:14 | 1:00:29 | 2:07:35 | 3:01:26 | 4:15:00 |
| 4:30 | 10:18 | 6:24 | 32:01 | 1:04:02 | 2:15:06 | 3:12:06 | 4:30:00 |
| 4:45 | 10:53 | 6:46 | 33:48 | 1:07:36 | 2:22:36 | 3:22:47 | 4:45:00 |
| 5:00 | 11:27 | 7:07 | 35:34 | 1:11:09 | 2:30:06 | 3:33:27 | 5:00:00 |
| 5:30 | 12:36 | 7:50 | 39:08 | 1:18:16 | 2:45:07 | 3:54:48 | 5:30:00 |
| 6:00 | 13:44 | 8:32 | 42:41 | 1:25:23 | 3:00:08 | 4:16:08 | 6:00:00 |
| 6:30 | 14:53 | 9:15 | 46:15 | 1:32:30 | 3:15:08 | 4:37:29 | 6:30:00 |
| 7:00 | 16:02 | 9:58 | 49:48 | 1:39:37 | 3:30:09 | 4:58:50 | 7:00:00 |
Riyadh Marathon Finish Time Estimator
Enter a recent 5K, 10K or Half Marathon time to estimate your Riyadh Marathon finish time.
Your 5K time
Estimated Riyadh Marathon finish
3:59:36
An estimate only, based on Pete Riegel's race-time prediction formula. Real marathon performance depends on endurance, training specificity, pacing and race-day conditions — not just your speed over a shorter distance.
Training for a different distance? Try the full pace calculator, race time predictor or pace chart.
Got your target time? Save it to your profile.
Tag Riyadh Marathon, set your goal pace, and let Verus track your countdown, training and fundraising in one place.
Start Your Verus JourneyRiyadh Marathon Race Day Checklist
Tap items to mark off your race-day readiness.
- Race number attached, and any timing chip fitted per your race pack instructions
- Weather-appropriate kit, plus something warm and disposable to discard before the start
- A plan for reaching Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, northern Riyadh
- A meeting point agreed with family and friends for after the race
Training Strategy for Riyadh Marathon
16-20 weeks is the target window for first-time marathoners; 12-16 weeks is solid if you're already maintaining a baseline mileage. Arrive with your longest run behind you in training, not on race day itself.
This is a largely flat course, so most of your long runs can mirror that — flat and steady, building time on feet rather than hill strength.
Reduce overall mileage across the final 2-3 weeks while preserving short race-pace bursts. Arrive at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, northern Riyadh fresh, energized, and primed — not fit, fresh.
Lock in your target pace using the interactive splits calculator below — no official pacers are confirmed for this event, so a pace band on your watch is the more reliable option.
Test your race-day fuel and hydration plan on your long training runs, not for the first time on race day — check the Race Day Checklist below for what's actually on this course.
Marathon Nutrition & Fueling Plan
A deliberate increase in carbohydrate over the two to three days before the race is the well-established approach at marathon distance.
Eat a carbohydrate-focused breakfast two to three hours before the start, and stick to something you've already tested in training rather than trying anything new.
Most runners take on carbohydrate every 30 to 45 minutes from about an hour in, alongside fluid at the on-course stations.
A mix of carbohydrate and protein in the hour or so after finishing supports recovery.
Riyadh Marathon Charity Places 2027
No formal charity-place scheme published — runners commonly fundraise for a charity of their own choosing.
Lead with your personal story — explain why the charity matters to you. Personal connection generates 3x more support than a generic link broadcast.
Share key training milestones on Instagram (first 10-miler, peak week, race week) with your fundraising link in bio. Publicly thanking donors prompts secondary gifts!
Running Riyadh Marathon for charity?
Link your JustGiving page to Verus and show up right here alongside other Riyadh Marathon fundraisers — goal, progress and story, all in one place.
Add Your Fundraiser to VerusRiyadh Marathon Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know for race weekend.
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Race details independently compiled and fact-checked by Tommo against the official Riyadh Marathon site , last verified August 2026. Always confirm official timings and policies directly prior to race day.