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Seven distances. One mountain weekend.
Whether you are stepping onto a trail for the first time or have several ultras under your race belt, UTD 2026 has a format for you. Here is everything you need to know about each one.
All categories start and finish at Hatta Wadi Hub, approximately 1.5 hours from Dubai. The routes climb into the Hajar Mountains, an environment that 2025 participants described consistently as more demanding than anticipated, and more rewarding for it.
Distance: 100km
Elevation: TBC once the new route is finalised (the 2025 route elevation was 3,329m)
Start: Saturday 28 Nov 2026, 06h00
Cut-off: 26 hours
Minimum age: 20yrs
Route GPX file: This will be shared the week before the event
Entry price:
AED549 in the Early Bird Sale starting 01 June 2026.
Price increases in each sale thereafter.
Prizes:
Prize money is awarded to the top three male and female finishers
1st AED 5,000, 2nd AED 2,000, 3rd AED 500
UTD100 is a full-distance mountain ultra. It’s among the more demanding events in the GCC ultrarunning calendar. The 26-hour cut-off is tight for the distance, and the course does not reward underpreparation.
Feedback from the UTD 2025 entrants is consistent: come trained, come equipped, and have a realistic cut-off strategy from the first kilometre.
"Do everything the same, it was a great event." — UTD100 finisher, 2025
Value for money score from 2025 participants: 8.8/10
Distance: 50km
Elevation: TBC once the new route is finalised (the 2025 route elevation was 2,143m)
Start: Saturday 28 Nov 2026, 07h00
Cut-off: 14 hours
Minimum age: 20yrs
Route GPX file: This will be shared the week before the event
Entry price:
AED449 in the Early Bird Sale starting 01 June 2026.
Price increases in each sale thereafter.
Prizes:
Prize money is awarded to the top three male and female finishers
1st AED 2,000, 2nd AED 500, 3rd AED 250
UTD50 covers terrain that consistently surprises even well-prepared athletes. The majority of the UTD50 runners in 2025 found the course more challenging than expected.
"Amazing route (although it was tougher than expected), great vibe with the team, great supporters and top organisation overall." — Harold, UAE
Value for money score from 2025 participants: 8.9/10
Distance: 30km
Elevation: TBC once the new route is finalised (the 2025 route elevation was 1,260m)
Start: Sunday 29 Nov 2026, 06h00
Cut-off: 8 hours
Minimum age: 20yrs
Route GPX file: This will be shared the week before the event
Entry price:
AED374 in the Early Bird Sale starting 01 June 2026.
Price increases in each sale thereafter.
Starting at first light on Sunday morning, UTD30 is for runners transitioning from road to trail, or those who want genuine mountain terrain without the multi-day recovery of the longer distances.
"Absolutely fantastic route in an amazing location. This was exactly what I came for. That first mountain on the UTD30 was a stunner. I wanted desert wilderness and got it." — James, UK
Value for money score from 2025 participants: 9.1/10
Distance: 15km
Elevation: TBC once the new route is finalised (the 2025 route elevation was 478m)
Start: Sunday 29 Nov 2026, 08h00
Cut-off: 4 hours
Minimum age: 16yrs
Route GPX file: This will be shared the week before the event
Entry price:
AED174 in the Early Bird Sale starting 01 June 2026.
Price increases in each sale thereafter.
UTD15 draws the widest range of runners; road runners, recreational runners, and triathletes all find it accessible without being soft. It’s great for first-time trail runners, allowing runners to experience Hatta's trails and the community atmosphere rather than chase a time.
"Great event! Great organisation. Trails were amazing and the venue was beautiful!" — UTD15 finisher, 2025
Value for money score from 2025 participants: 8.2/10
Distance: 5km
Elevation: 111m
Start: Saturday 28 Nov 2026, 09h00
Cut-off: 2 hours
Minimum age: 16yrs
Route GPX file: This will be shared the week before the event
Entry price:
AED119 in the Early Bird Sale starting 01 June 2026.
Price increases in each sale thereafter.
A 5-kilometre route through Hatta's lower trails and open terrain, UTD5 is suitable for all levels, from first-timers to experienced runners who want a shorter day or a social run alongside friends.
"Such a fun day out, and I was back and rested before my partner finished the UTD30! " — UTD5 finisher, 2025
Value for money score from 2025 participants: 8.8/10
Distance: 5km loop
Format: 12-hour team relay, teams of 3-5 runners, each runner must complete at least 2 loops
Elevation: TBC once the new route is finalised
Start: Saturday 28 Nov 2026, 17h00
Cut-off: 12 hours
Minimum age: 21yrs
Route GPX file: This will be shared the week before the event
Entry price:
AED1375 in the Early Bird Sale starting 01 June 2026.
Price increases in each sale thereafter.
The Team Shootout is UTD's new overnight format. Teams of three to five runners take turns on a 5-kilometre loop for 12 continuous hours, from Saturday evening until 5 am Sunday. Each athlete must complete at least 2 loops; beyond that, there is no ceiling. The team that accumulates the most distance wins.
The relay structure means pace can be distributed across the team, and the overnight element creates a collective experience that a solo race cannot replicate. The format suits corporate teams, running clubs, and mixed-ability friend groups equally.
Distance: 1km
Start: Sunday 29 Nov 2026, 09h00
Age range: 5-11yrs
Route GPX file: This will be shared the week before the event
Entry price:
AED50 across all sales windows
The Mini Trail runs on Sunday morning from Hatta Wadi Hub and is enough of a challenge to take seriously, yet accessible enough that no child gets left behind. Parents are allowed to run with their kids, if they can keep up!
Ultra Trail Dubai is a family and community event, and the Mini Trail race is the centrepiece of that.
