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🗓️ JANUARY 13 TO 17, 2027 | 📍 ALULA, SAUDI ARABIA
The Ultra Gobi A in AlUla brings the iconic team race format to Saudi Arabia for the first time. Teams of 3 to 5 cover 121 kilometers over four days through the ancient Spice Route landscape. The team's result is determined by the finishing time of the 3rd member to cross the line.
This "Third Person" rule is what makes the Ultra Gobi A unique: a team cannot succeed on the strength of one or two fast runners alone. Strategy, pacing, and mutual support are everything.
The format is open to business school teams, corporate teams, brand teams, and open registration teams.
At a Glance
Format: Team stage race (4 days, 3 nights)
Stages: 4 stages, each 25 to 35km
Navigation: Marked racecourse
Support: Full camp support. Meals, water, medical, tents provided.
Team size: 3 to 5 members (minimum 3 to form a team)
Distance: 121km
Difficulty: Challenging but accessible with preparation.
Terrain: Sandstone canyons, desert, oases, rocky valleys
The Course
Four stages through AlUla's core landscape. Each day brings different terrain: flat desert, sand dunes, palm oases, sandstone valleys. The route passes Hegra's Nabataean tombs, the ruins of Dadan, Jabal Ikmah's ancient inscriptions, and Elephant Rock.
Each stage is 25 to 35km with daily cutoffs. The course is marked.
📎 GPX and KML files will be published before each edition.
On the Course
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Each night, a complete mobile campsite is built along the course. Over 100 tents, a dedicated logistics team, power and sanitation. Everything is moved and rebuilt the next day.
Local cuisine served at camp. Packed lunch for the day. Fruits and snacks at checkpoints. Fresh ingredients sourced from the region.
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The racecourse is marked. Checkpoints are staffed with volunteers and race officials. Medical teams are present on the course and at camp.
The race operates a 24/7 safety and communications system.
Planning & Logistics
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⚠️ Schedule is preliminary and subject to change.
Jan 13: Check-in, registration, race briefing, opening ceremony
Jan 14: Stage 1
Jan 15: Stage 2
Jan 16: Stage 3
Jan 17: Stage 4. A/B cutoff and award ceremony
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All participants check in on January 13. The program includes a race briefing and the opening ceremony shared with all Ultra Gobi AlUla formats.
After the final stage on January 17, all teams gather for the award ceremony.
Participants arrange their own travel to and from AlUla. The organizing team can assist with accommodation recommendations.
Registration & Pricing
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Registration fee per person: $1,800
Included:Race bib and race pack
Medal and finisher t-shirt
Tent accommodation at desert camps (3 nights)
All meals during the race
Water and snacks at checkpoints
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 expenses
Travel and medical insurance
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Eligibility:
Minimum age: 18 years
Teams of 3 to 5 members
No qualifying race required
Team categories: Business schools, corporate teams, brand teams, open registration
For registration inquiries: ultragobiseries@gmail.com
January 2027: The Founding Edition
The legendary Ultra Gobi team race comes to AlUla.
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 A takes place January 13 to 17, 2027
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The Gobi A uses teams of 6 to 10 with the 6th-person scoring rule. The AlUla A uses smaller teams of 3 to 5 with the 3rd-person scoring rule. Both cover 121km over 4 stages.
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The A format is a team event. You need a team of at least 3. If you are looking for a solo format, consider the A+ (121km, nonstop) or B (121km, individual stage).
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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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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
