Event Overview
| Date | Dec 10-12, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Al Hamra to Birkat Al Mouz, Hajar Mountains, Oman |
| Format | Fixed-Distance |
| Terrain | Mountain |
| Region | Asia |
| Distance / duration | 154 km |
| Course model | Point-to-point |
| Edition note | Registration for the Hajar Ultra and the 100K Jabal Classic was still open on October 20, 2026; the 50K, 30K and 20K races are sold out. There is no waiting list, and entries cannot be transferred to another runner. The organizer’s registration page gives February 9 (priority) and February 11, 2026 (general) as opening dates, while UTMB’s November 2025 announcement had said February 3 and 5. The race page lists bib collection on December 5–6 in Muscat and December 8–9 at the Race Village, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, but the event schedule shows 4:00 to 9:00 PM on December 5, 6 and 8, with the Muscat venue still to be confirmed. UTMB Live had no 2026 page on October 20. |
| Elevation gain | About 8,000 m (8,101 m in the aid-station table) |
| Elevation loss | 8,182 m (aid-station table) |
| Cutoff | 48 hours (finish by 3:30 PM Saturday). Time barriers: Misfat Al Abriyeen (km 21.9) 8:00 PM Thursday, Sharaf Al Alamain (km 44.5) 3:30 AM Friday, Al Roos (km 60.9) 8:30 AM Friday, Hail Al Diyar (km 88.6) 7:30 PM Friday, Safi Sahra (km 107.8) 2:30 AM Saturday, Saiq (km 124.2) 7:30 AM Saturday and Muaydin (km 145.4) 2:00 PM Saturday. |
| Start | 3:30 PM Thursday in Al Hamra |
| Highlights | Via Ferrata Near Km 87, New UTMB World Series Event |
Himam Trail Run Hajar Ultra winners, 2023–2025
Winners of the Himam Trail Run longest race that the 2026 Oman by UTMB Hajar Ultra replaces, with the distance and climb UTMB recorded each year.
| Year | Distance and climb | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 118 km, 5,820 m | Ayyoub Ahmed (Morocco), 14:43:42 | Maite Maiora Elizondo (Spain), 19:02:25 |
| 2024 | 114 km, 5,700 m | Rachid El Morabity (Morocco), 15:54:04 | Maite Maiora Elizondo (Spain), 17:40:15 |
| 2023 | 108 km, 5,100 m | Name withheld (Oman), 16:55:38 | Aziza El Amrany (Morocco), 23:53:32 |
The UTMB Index lists the 2023 men’s winner as anonymous. All three editions started in Al Hamra.
Sources: UTMB Index: Himam Trail Run 2025 Hajar Ultra results; UTMB Index: Himam Trail Run 2024 Al Hajar Range Ultra results; UTMB Index: Himam Trail Run 2023 Al Hajar Range Ultra results.
Course & Terrain
Point to point from Al Hamra through Misfat Al Abriyeen, over the high ground of Jabal Akhdar via Sharaf Al Alamain, Qiyut and Saiq, and down to the Race Village in Birkat Al Mouz. The organizer describes steep ridgelines, deep wadis, exposed traverses and remote plateaus. The event also has the 103 km Jabal Classic (Thursday, from Al Hamra), the 50 km Skyward Canyon (Friday, from Izki), the 32 km Old Capital Trail (Saturday, from Nizwa) and the 21.5 km Scenic Ascent (Saturday, from Birkat Al Mouz).
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Misfat Al Abriyeen mountain village
- Jabal Akhdar settlements and terraced farms
- Via ferrata section near km 87
- Finish at the palm oasis of Birkat Al Mouz
Long technical high-mountain sections, with the course rising from about 600 m to 2,400 m. The via ferrata near km 87 usually takes 10 to 15 minutes; an outdoor partner supplies harnesses, helmets and guides on site.
The race is held in the Omani winter. The organizer expects 18–26°C by day at low elevations such as Nizwa, and 5–15°C by day in the mountains, with nights close to 0°C and possibly below freezing in exposed places.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | No lottery and no qualifying race. Runners with a valid UTMB Index had a 48-hour priority window from February 9, 2026, and entries then opened to all until races fill. Minimum age 18. The fee is about €281 depending on the pricing tier, plus an 8% administration fee; refunds need the cancellation insurance. |
| Support model | 20 aid points between start and finish, 14 of them with hot food. Runners must carry at least 2 liters of water. Prize money of OMR 1,000, 900 and 800 goes to the top three men and women, with a separate prize list for the leading Omani runners. |
| Crew / pacers | One personal assistant per runner at the assistance points marked in the aid-station table: Misfat Al Abriyeen, Sharaf Al Alamain, Hail Al Diyar, Safi Sahra and Saiq. Pacing and help from anyone outside the official zones are not allowed and can bring penalties or disqualification. |
| Drop bags | The aid-station table marks bag access at Sharaf Al Alamain (km 44.5), Hail Al Diyar (km 88.6) and Saiq (km 124.2). Hail Al Diyar and the finish also have rest areas. Only official UTMB World Series bags are carried. |
| Logistics note | International runners fly into Muscat International Airport; the Race Village in Birkat Al Mouz is about 1 hour 30 minutes away by car and 25 minutes from Nizwa. The organizer provides transport and shuttles to the start in Al Hamra. Bib collection is in person only, and gear is checked at collection. |
Why This Race Matters
Oman by UTMB joins the UTMB World Series in 2026, which UTMB describes as a return seven years after Oman last appeared on the Ultra-Trail World Tour. It builds on the Himam Trail Run Race, whose Hajar Ultra (108 to 118 km in 2023–2025) was already a UTMB Index race. The 2026 Hajar Ultra is the event’s 100M-category race and awards 4 Running Stones; UTMB says the top three men and women in each World Series 50K, 100K and 100M race win a place at the Finals.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- No record yet: 2026 is the first Hajar Ultra at 154 km. Previous Himam Trail Run winners ran shorter courses; see the table below.
Preparing for a Race Like Oman by UTMB
The fixed-distance race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:
- Walking strategy for ultramarathons: When and how to walk by terrain, effort and cutoffs.
- Crew and aid-station strategy: Crew tables, aid stops, drop bags and runner preferences.
- Hydration and sodium for ultramarathons: Fluid, sodium, thirst, sweat rate and hyponatremia risk.
- Tapering for ultramarathons: Plan the taper and race week around your own recovery.
Best Fit
- Experienced mountain runners ready for long technical sections
- Runners looking for a December mountain race in cool weather
Planning Notes
- Prepare for sleep decisions, weather swings, and aid-station discipline. The distance is only one part of a multi-day fixed-distance race.
- Train for terrain-specific fatigue. Technical trails and mountain courses demand downhill durability, hiking efficiency, and reliable night lighting.
- The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
- Large swing between daytime heat and near-freezing nights at altitude.
- Two working torches with spare batteries, a warm second layer and a hooded waterproof jacket are mandatory.
- Oman’s weekend is Friday and Saturday, so some shops open late or close around Friday prayers.
Event FAQs
Is Oman by UTMB a new race?
It is new to the UTMB World Series in 2026. UTMB says it builds on the Himam Trail Run Race, Oman’s annual mountain event, whose Hajar Ultra ran 108 to 118 km from Al Hamra in 2023–2025. The 2026 Hajar Ultra is longer, at 154 km.
When does the Hajar Ultra start?
At 3:30 PM on Thursday, December 10, 2026, in Al Hamra. Runners have 48 hours, until 3:30 PM on Saturday, December 12, to reach Birkat Al Mouz. The 100K Jabal Classic starts from Al Hamra the same morning at 7:00 AM.
Is there a via ferrata on the Hajar Ultra?
Yes, at about km 87. It is short and exposed, usually taking 10 to 15 minutes, and an outdoor partner provides harnesses, helmets and guides on site.
How cold is the Hajar Ultra at night?
The organizer warns that mountain nights can drop close to 0°C and below freezing in exposed areas, even though days at low elevation reach 18 to 26°C. A warm long-sleeved second layer and a waterproof jacket are mandatory.
Related Preparation
- Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
- Open the Fixed-Distance format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the timed-race pace calculator
- Plan checkpoint arrivals and cutoff buffers
- Build a crew and drop-bag plan
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated October 20, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official Hajar Ultra race page and aid-station table — https://oman.utmb.world/races/HAJ
- Official event homepage with race list and registration status — https://oman.utmb.world/
- Official registration rules and fees — https://oman.utmb.world/registration
- Official event schedule — https://oman.utmb.world/runners/event-schedule
- Official FAQ, including weather, assistance and via ferrata — https://oman.utmb.world/runners/faq
- Official rules and regulations — https://oman.utmb.world/runners/rules-regulation
- UTMB announcement of Oman by UTMB, November 2025 — https://utmb.world/news/new-event-zut-oman
- UTMB World Series events list — https://utmb.world/utmb-world-series-events
- Official results — https://utmb.world/utmb-index/races/37544.omanbyutmbhajarultra.2026
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 20, 2026.