Samla: Qatar’s toughest race welcomes all participants with $300,000 prize pool
Published: 23 April 2025
100 km race comprises four endurance challenges: swimming, mountain biking, running, and kayaking
NT Bureau
Doha
Visit Qatar has partnered with Samla Race to launch the international edition of the Samla Race. Set to take place on 24 January 2026, the international edition of the race will welcome male and female participants from all over the world to compete in Qatar’s toughest endurance race.
First launched in 2017, the Samla Race has become a hallmark of Qatar’s sports calendar. As the main sponsor of the international edition, Visit Qatar highlights its dedication to sports tourism and reinforces its standing as one of the leading global destinations for major international sporting events.
The 100km Samla International Race comprises four endurance challenges: swimming, mountain biking, running, and kayaking – each designed to test the participants’ stamina and skill. The race begins with a 3-kilometre swim, followed by a 49-kilometre run. Competitors then tackle a 44-kilometre mountain biking trail, before concluding with a 4-kilometre kayaking challenge.
Registration is available through the official Samla Race website, where a comprehensive guide with rules and instructions can be found. The race is open to all nationalities and genders aged 18 and above.
Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, said, “Our partnership with Samla International Race underscores Visit Qatar’s ongoing commitment to positioning Qatar as a premier global destination for major international sporting events. The launch of the international edition of this race marks a significant milestone not only in elevating Qatar’s profile in sports tourism, but in showcasing an authentic Qatari initiative that has demonstrated excellence at the local level and now steps confidently onto the global stage. It also reflects the strength of Qatar’s world-class infrastructure, and the creativity embedded in its sporting culture. We are proud to be the main partner of an event that embodies both the spirit of challenge and the innovation that defines Qatar’s approach to sport and tourism development.”
The organising committee has allocated valuable cash prizes for the winners in both the men’s and women’s categories, with a total prize pool of approximately USD 300,000. The first-place winner will receive USD 50,000, while the second and third places will be awarded USD 30,000 and USD 20,000, respectively. Competitors placing fourth to tenth will receive prizes ranging from USD 10,000 to USD 4,000, depending on their ranking. These prizes are a gesture of appreciation for the participants and serve as an incentive to excel in one of the most challenging races in the region.
