Visit Qatar and the Qatar Challenge Racing Club (Samla) have opened registration for the second edition of the Samla International Race, scheduled for January 23, 2027, between Sealine and Khor Al Adaid.
The event is open to
male and female participants from around the world and forms part of a
three-year strategic partnership between Visit Qatar and Samla covering 2027 to
2029.
The 100-kilometre
endurance race comprises four disciplines: swimming, running, off-road cycling
and kayaking. Competitors will begin with a 3-kilometre swim, followed by a
21-kilometre run and a 22-kilometre off-road cycling stage.
They will then
complete a 4-kilometre kayaking challenge, another 22-kilometre cycling stage
and a final 28-kilometre run.
Ahmad Al-Binali, Director of Festivals and Events at Visit Qatar, said:
"We are delighted to announce a long-term strategic partnership between
Visit Qatar and the Qatar Challenge Racing Club (Samla), spanning three years
from 2027 to 2029. The partnership aims to continue developing the Samla
International Race and strengthen its presence on the international sporting
stage, supporting Qatar's position as a global destination for sports tourism
and major events. The Samla International Race exemplifies the integration of
sport and tourism, with the visitor experience extending beyond the race itself
to discovering the wide range of experiences and events Qatar has to
offer".
Azzam Al-Mannai, President of Qatar
Challenge Racing Club (Samla) said: “We are delighted to launch the Samla
International Race 2027 in partnership with Visit Qatar and to mark this
important milestone by signing a three-year strategic partnership agreement
beginning in 2027. This partnership represents an important step in our vision
to develop the Samla International Race into an integrated sports and tourism
platform combining endurance, adventure, and competition while showcasing
Qatar’s unique natural landscapes and tourism offerings to athletes and
audiences from around the world. We greatly value the support and confidence of
Visit Qatar and look forward to building, through this partnership, a
sustainable international event that strengthens Qatar’s position as a leading
destination for sports and tourism, in line with our shared vision and
ambitions for the years ahead”.
The organisers have
allocated a total prize pool of $600,000 across the men's and women's
categories.
First-place finishers
will each receive $100,000, while second-place winners will be awarded $60,000
and third-place winners $40,000.
Participants finishing
between fourth and tenth place will receive prizes ranging from $20,000 to
$8,000, depending on their ranking.
The race is designed
to test competitors' endurance, physical fitness and technical skills across
varied terrain and sporting disciplines.
The second edition builds on the event's international participation, with the organisers seeking to attract competitors from different countries to challenge themselves in one of the region's demanding endurance competitions. -TradeArabia News Service