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🗓️ JANUARY 13 TO 20, 2027 | 📍 ALULA, SAUDI ARABIA
The Ultra Gobi AlUla 400km is the first edition of this race outside of China. 400 kilometers through the sandstone canyons and open deserts of AlUla, self-navigated, self-supported, nonstop. The cutoff for this edition is 139 hours.
The race follows the ancient Spice Route through one of the most historically layered landscapes on earth. Runners will pass Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its 2,000-year-old Nabataean tombs carved into cliff faces. They will cross the archaeological site of Dadan and move through terrain that ranges from flat desert plains to rocky valleys and palm-lined oases.
This is where the Ultra Gobi Series meets the Arabian Peninsula for the first time.
At a Glance
Distance: 400km
Cutoff: 139 hours
Format: Solo, nonstop
Participants: 50 athletes only
Navigation: Self-navigated via personal GPS device
Support: Self-supported. Water at checkpoints and aid stations.
Difficulty: Extreme. Open only to experienced ultra-distance runners.
Terrain: Sandstone canyons, desert, oases, rocky valleys
The Course
The 400km course takes runners through the core of AlUla's historical and natural landscape. The route connects Hegra, Dadan, and other archaeological sites along the ancient Spice Route, passing through diverse terrain: flat desert plains, sand dunes, palm oases, sandstone formations, and rocky valleys.
Compared to the Gobi Desert edition, AlUla offers more varied and technically demanding terrain with higher cumulative elevation. The course changes from the Gobi tradition of vast, open emptiness to a more immersive experience: running past Nabataean tombs, ancient inscriptions, and the geological formations that have guided travellers through this valley for millennia.
📎 GPX and KML files will be published before each edition.
On the Course
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Rest stations are placed approximately every 40 kilometers. At rest stations, participants can access their personal drop-off boxes. Communal tents, sleeping mats, and hot and cold drinking water are provided.
Checkpoints are placed roughly every 8 to 12 kilometers between rest stations. Water is available at checkpoints. Their primary role is safety and tracking.
The 400km format does not use fixed camps. Runners move at their own pace, using checkpoints and rest stations for water, medical support, and brief rest.
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All runners carry a GPS tracker provided by the organizing committee, allowing real-time monitoring throughout the race. Checkpoints are staffed with trained volunteers and race officials. Medical support is available on the course and at rest stations.
The race operates a 24/7 safety and communications system for the full duration of the event.
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The Ultra Gobi AlUla 400km is fully self-supported. Between rest stations, you carry everything you need: food, personal medication, and all mandatory equipment.
Mandatory gear inspections take place at the start line and at designated checkpoints. The full mandatory equipment list will be published in the Race Regulations.
All participants will be equipped with a GPS tracker for real-time location monitoring.
Planning & Logistics
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⚠️ Schedule is preliminary and subject to change.
Jan 13: Check-in, registration (all formats). Race briefing. Ultra-runners' meet & greet. Opening ceremony
Jan 14: 400km race start
Jan 15 to 19: Race in progress
Jan 20: 400km cutoff. Award ceremony
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All participants check in on January 13, the day before the race. The program includes a race briefing, an ultra-runners' meet & greet, and the opening ceremony shared with all other Ultra Gobi AlUla formats.
After completing the race, participants gather for the 400km award ceremony on January 20.
Participants arrange their own travel to and from AlUla. The organizing team is happy to assist with accommodation recommendations.
Registration & Pricing
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Included:
Race bib and race pack
Medal and finisher t-shirt
Communal tents, sleeping mats and drinking water at rest stations
Drop-off box service
GPS tracker for the duration of the race
Opening ceremony
Award ceremony
Professional race photos and videos
Not included:
Round-trip travel to and from AlUla
Accommodation in AlUla before and after the race
Personal food and supplies during the race (other than drinking water at stations)
Personal expenses
Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
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Eligibility:
Minimum age: 18 years
Mandatory: completion of at least one 160km+ trail/ultra race since January 1, 2025, within the official cutoff
Application including health declaration required
Prize money (men's and women's categories):
1st place: 22,500 SAR
2nd place: 13,500 SAR
3rd place: 9,000 SAR
January 2027: The Founding Edition
This will be the first Ultra Gobi event outside of China, and the first time the 400km format meets the Arabian desert. Be part of it.
Results, stories, and race highlights will be shared here after the event.
Destination
AlUla, northwestern Saudi Arabia. A valley cut between towering sandstone cliffs, home to one of the oldest continuously inhabited oases on the Arabian Peninsula. Over 7,000 years of civilization have left their mark here. The most striking: Hegra, where the Nabataeans carved more than 100 monumental tombs into the rock face. The same people who built Petra in Jordan, only here without the crowds. Beyond the race, there is plenty to explore: a preserved mud brick old town, ancient inscriptions scattered across the landscape, and rock formations unlike anything else on the peninsula.
FAQs
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The Ultra Gobi AlUla 400km takes place January 13 to 20, 2027.
Total event duration is 8 days. -
Yes. The 400km is open if you meet the requirements (one 160km+ trail/ultra race since January 1, 2025)
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Days are mostly between 18 to 21°C, nights can get chilly with temperatures between 3 to 7°C
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Visa on arrival is available for many nationalities. Check visitsaudi.com for your country.
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The AlUla course runs through sandstone canyons and archaeological sites rather than the vast open plains of the Gobi. The climate in January is milder than October in the Gobi. The cutoff is 139 hours (compared to 140 in the Gobi 2026 edition). The self-navigated, self-supported format remains the same.
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We've built a clear and flexible refund policy for Ultra Gobi AlUla. Participants who wish to request a refund must submit their application within the specified timeframes. Refunds will be processed strictly according to the timing of the request, as outlined below:
Phase 1: Full Refund Period
Deadline: Before 18:00, November 18, 2026
Refund Policy: 100% of the registration fee will be refunded.
Phase 2: Partial Refund Period
Period: From 18:00, November 18, 2026 to 18:00, December 10, 2026
Refund Policy: 30% of the registration fee will be deducted as event preparation costs. The remaining 70% will be refunded.
Phase 3: No Refund Period
Effective From: 18:00, December 10, 2026 onwards
Refund Policy: Participants will be deemed to have voluntarily withdrawn from the event, and no registration fee will be refunded.
All participants are responsible for obtaining their own travel documents, including passports and visas. If a participant is unable to enter the host country (Saudi Arabia) for any personal reason, including but not limited to failure to obtain a visa or non-compliance with passport or visa requirements, the Organizing Committee shall bear no legal responsibility. Refunds, if any, will be handled strictly in accordance with the policy above.
For any inquiries, please contact: ultragobiseries@gmail.com
