First Edition of Ultra Gobi AlUla Set for January 2027

Ultra Gobi, one of China’s most established outdoor endurance races, will stage its first international event in January 2027 with the launch of Ultra Gobi AlUla, bringing its established race formats to the historic oasis destination in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
 The 21st edition of the original Ultra Gobi takes place in the Gobi Desert in October 2026, followed by Ultra Gobi AlUla from January 12 to 20, 2027. The announcement marks the first time in the series’ 20-year history that Ultra Gobi will take place outside China.
 Located approximately 300 kilometres north of Madinah, AlUla lies along the ancient Incense Road and later routes of pilgrimage to Makkah, and its historical significance as a trading hub is evident from the myriad of caravans that once traversed the landscape. These routes enabled the transport of Chinese silk and ceramics to the Arabian Peninsula, and Arabian frankincense, amongst other precious goods, to China. The race will pass through this landscape of desert valleys, oases, and monumental rock formations.
 Over two decades, Ultra Gobi has welcomed more than 79,000 race entries, the majority from EMBA, MBA and executive education programmes at leading business schools, alongside corporate teams and individual ultra-distance runners. Expanding to AlUla continues the founding idea: that endurance sport can be a way of bringing people closer across borders, cultures, and backgrounds.
 Ultra Gobi AlUla will offer six race formats. The 400km race is self-navigated, nonstop, and self-supported, while the A+ format covers 121km as a nonstop race for individual runners on a single continuous push.
 The A format covers the same 121km distance as a four-day team race for groups of three to five athletes, scored on the Third Person Scoring Rule based on the cumulative time of the third member to finish each stage, adjusted for gender and age. The B format follows the same 121km course as A at an individual pace. The C format offers a single-day 30km desert experience open to all fitness levels.
 The Youth format offers a 90km three-day family race designed as a multi-generational experience for younger participants and their families.
 This first international edition is the result of long-term commitment and careful preparation, in line with AlUla’s commitment to developing the destination as a global hub for authentic culture, rich heritage, and outdoor sport. Ultra Gobi continues to work closely with AlUla on course design, logistics, and safety planning.
 Registration for Ultra Gobi AlUla 2027 will open in the coming weeks. Detailed course information, schedules and entry requirements will be published on https://www.ultragobiseries.com/.