The Race

Please use the menu buttons on the right to navigate through this section where you'll find all you need to know about the race.

If you find you still need to know something that you can't find here, try our FAQs section or alternatively use our contact form - we're here to help!

Please remember our registration dates:

Early Bird Discounts: 1 May - 30 September ONLINE ONLY

Registration: 1 October - 30 November

Late Registration: 1 December - 15 January (or when all places are full).

There will be NO REGISTRATION after 30 November (or when all places are full).

Race History

His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah & Member of the Supreme Council, under whose patronage the event is hosted annually established the RAK Half Marathon in 2007. In the inaugural running of the race, Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru finished the race faster than the then World Record time setting a new World Best for the half marathon distance and in doing so instantly elevated this new race to worldwide attention.

In the second edition of the race in 2008, 4 men broke the (once) elusive 60 minute barrier in what had become the World's Richest Half Marathon and the size of the overall field doubled as runners from around the region and across the world traveled to experience this super fast international class race and the emerging emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

By year 3 the race had been awarded an IAAF Silver label, becoming the only road race in the region and one of only a handful in the world to receive this world class accreditation from the global governing body of athletics.
As an associate member of AIMS (Association of International Road Races and Distance Running) from the outset, the race graduated in 2009 to being a full member and became the only road race in the region to achieve such collective status.
As well as gaining in credibility, the race continued to break records seeing Dire Tune set a new National Ethiopian Record, Abebu Gelan (ETH) setting a new Junior (women's) Half Marathon record and Deriba Merga (ETH) equaling the World 15km record en route. Patrick Makau won for the second year in a row in a time of 58:52 setting a new course record and becoming the all-time second fastest men's finisher in a half marathon. In addition, no less than 5 course records were broken during the 2009 race with hundreds of runners achieving Personal Bests in what was rated as the most competitive in all of distance running (road, track, cross-country and indoor track) for the month of February by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians.

By the fourth edition in 2010, the RAK Half Marathon had succeeded in becoming the most favored winter race for elite athletes and had nudged it's way progressively through the crowded winter schedule of UAE races to become the most entered race in the country with a record 2,597 entrants showcasing no less than 85 different nationalities. No World Records were to be set in year four although Elvan Abeylegesse not only set a new Course Record and a new National Turkish Record but also ran the fastest ever debut half marathon (women) with her own PB of 1:07:07). Mare Dibaba stole the Ethiopian National Record from Dire Tune's 2009 performance in RAK with a second place finish this year (1:07:13) and Saif Al Rashedi claimed victory for the UAE setting a new National Men's Half Marathon Record (1:10:51). In total 4 men broke the hour mark again bringing the total number of sub-60 times witnessed at the RAK Half Marathon in its first 4 years to 13 whilst the women have notched up a total of 9 sub-68 minute finishes.

The 2011 edition was the event's 5th anniversary and celebrated in great style at the finish line. This was definitely the year where the women shone as Mary Keitany (KEN) tore around the course to set a new World Record for the 20km and the half marathon (1:05:50) as well as World Bests at 8km and 10miles and in doing so established the new Course Record (women) and a new Kenyan National Record. In all 7 new records were set making 2011 the most successful year in terms of elite performance and in addition new Course Records were set in a further 4 categories. The registered field had increased to 2,634 entrants across 88 nationalities proving that this event continues to grow in every respect.