Oman Desert Marathon Concludes: Elmorabity Mohammed Claims Overall Victory as Desert Meets Sea

This is a press release from Icarus Sports following the conclusion of the Oman Desert Marathon

Oman Desert Marathon Concludes: ELMORABITY Mohammed Claims Overall Victory as Desert Meets Sea

Bidiyah, Oman – January 15, 2026 – The Oman Desert Marathon 165km & 100km concluded today with Morocco’s ELMORABITY Mohammed claiming overall victory in the 165km division after five days of intense competition across the Bidiyah desert region. The final stage brought athletes from the desert interior to the stunning coastline, where their journey ended at the Arabian Sea.

OVERALL FINAL STANDINGS – 165KM DIVISION

Men’s Division:

1. ELMORABITY Mohammed (Morocco / Team TGCC) – 15:38:10
   
2. ELMORABITY Rachid (Morocco / Team TGCC) – 16:11:42 (+33’31”)
   
3. SALEH Alsaidi (Oman) – 16:53:34 (+1h 15’23”)
   

Women’s Division:

1. AZIZA Elamrany (Morocco) – 22:18:33
   
2. AZIZA Raji (Morocco) – 23:05:47 (+47’14”)
   
3. Dr. NATALIE Taylor (Great Britain) – 23:49:35 (+1h 31’02”)
   

OVERALL FINAL STANDINGS – 100KM DIVISION

Men’s Division:

1. SULEIMAN al khatri (Oman) – 16:34:08
   
2. YUSUF alnaabi (Oman) – 16:34:24 (+15″)
   
3. PAUL Groom (Great Britain) – 23:56:55 (+7h 22’46”)
   

Women’s Division:

1. WANG He (China) – 34:33:15

Moroccan Dominance in 165km

ELMORABITY Mohammed’s overall victory represents the culmination of five days of strategic racing and exceptional desert expertise. Despite brother Rachid claiming individual stage victories, Mohammed’s consistency across all five stages secured the overall title with a margin of over 33 minutes.

The brothers’ tactical racing throughout the event demonstrated world-class athleticism, with both athletes finishing in the top two positions overall after navigating 165 kilometers of challenging desert terrain while carrying mandatory equipment.

SALEH Alsaidi delivered an outstanding performance for Oman, securing third place overall and demonstrating strong form on home terrain throughout the five-stage event.
 

Women’s 165km: Moroccan Excellence

AZIZA Elamrany claimed the women’s 165km overall championship with dominant performances across all five stages. Fellow Moroccan AZIZA Raji finished in second position, approximately 47 minutes behind, while Dr. NATALIE Taylor of Great Britain completed the podium in third place.

Dr. Taylor, a British Army medical officer, combined competitive excellence with her appreciation for the desert ecosystem throughout the event, maintaining a podium position from start to finish.
 

Omani Success in 100km Division

The 100km division witnessed exceptional Omani performances, with SULEIMAN al khatri and YUSUF alnaabi finishing in first and second positions respectively, separated by just 15 seconds after five days of racing. Their photo finish demonstrates the intensity of competition maintained throughout the event.

Great Britain’s PAUL Groom secured third position in the men’s 100km division, while China’s WANG He claimed the women’s title.

The five-stage route began in the towering dunes of the Bidiyah desert interior, traversing varied terrain including vegetated dune systems, compact sand roads, and technical undulating sections. The final stage brought athletes to the Arabian Sea coastline, where the symbolic finish line marked the transition from desert to ocean.

Environmental conditions throughout the event ranged from cool morning temperatures of 16°C to significantly elevated midday heat, testing athletes’ adaptation and endurance capabilities across all five competitive days.

Twenty-eight athletes successfully completed the 165km division, while seven finishers conquered the 100km challenge. Each finisher navigated extreme conditions while carrying mandatory safety equipment, demonstrating extraordinary determination and preparation.

Special recognition to Team Medic to Medic members ROBERT Clack and CLAIRE Fielding of Great Britain, who completed their humanitarian-focused journey, utilizing the extreme challenge to raise awareness for medical assistance programs.

ALMATASEM ALFAHDI of Oman withdrew from the competition, with medical staff ensuring appropriate athlete welfare protocols were followed.

Event Success and Future

The 2026 Oman Desert Marathon successfully brought together international athletes from 15 nations, showcasing the Sultanate’s unique desert landscape and organizational excellence in ultra-endurance event management. The event maintained exemplary safety standards while facilitating world-class competitive performances.
 

About the Oman Desert Marathon

The Oman Desert Marathon is a multi-stage ultra-endurance event conducted in the Bidiyah region of Oman. The event brings together international athletes competing across challenging desert terrain in both 165km and 100km divisions over five consecutive days. Participants carry mandatory safety and survival equipment while navigating extreme environmental conditions. The event emphasizes athletic performance, participant safety, and environmental stewardship within the unique desert ecosystem of the Sultanate of Oman.

Highlights from DAY 4: Oman Desert Marathon Stage 4: Dramatic Finishes Define the Penultimate Stage

Bidiyah, Oman – January 14, 2026 – The penultimate stage of the Oman Desert Marathon 165km & 100km delivered dramatic racing today as Moroccan brothers ELMORABITY Rachid and Mohammed crossed the finish line separated by a single second. The innovative wave start system, designed to manage field spread and ensure safe completion times, successfully facilitated competitive racing while accommodating athletes of varying pace capabilities.
 

STAGE 4 RESULTS – 165KM DIVISION

Men’s Division:

1. ELMORABITY Rachid (Morocco / Team TGCC) – 4:28:54
   
2. ELMORABITY Mohammed (Morocco / Team TGCC) – 4:28:55 (+1 second)
   
3. KHALID Al Farsi (Oman) – 4:42:12 (+13’18”)
   

Women’s Division:

1. AZIZA Elamrany (Morocco) – 6:24:37
   
2. AZIZA Raji (Morocco) – 6:24:40 (+3 seconds)
   
3. Dr. NATALIE Taylor (Great Britain) – 6:37:38 (+13’01”)
   

Did Not Finish:
• ALEXEY Baboshin (Russia)

Wave Start System Implementation

Stage 4 employed a strategic wave start system to optimize field management and ensure all participants could complete the course within daylight hours and safe operational parameters:
• 12:00 – First wave departure (slower-pace runners)
• 13:00 – Second wave departure (middle-pace runners)
• 16:00 – Third wave departure (fastest runners and 100km division hikers)

This reverse-speed starting protocol allowed slower athletes maximum time for completion, while enabling faster competitors to demonstrate their superior pace through the field. The system proved effective in managing the spread of participants across the challenging desert terrain.
 

Dramatic Finishes in Both Divisions

The men’s 165km stage witnessed one of the closest finishes in event history as brothers Rachid and Mohammed ELMORABITY completed the course within one second of each other after 4 hours and 28 minutes of desert racing. Both athletes, representing Team TGCC of Morocco, demonstrated exceptional tactical awareness and physical conditioning.

Omani athlete KHALID Al Farsi secured third position, finishing 13 minutes and 18 seconds behind the Moroccan leaders.
 

Moroccan Sisters Mirror Brothers’ Performance

In a remarkable parallel to the men’s race, Moroccan athletes Elamrany and Raji AZIZA delivered their own dramatic finish, separated by just three seconds after over six hours of racing. AZIZA Elamrany claimed the stage victory in 6:24:37, with sister Raji crossing in 6:24:40.

Dr. NATALIE Taylor of Great Britain maintained her podium position, finishing third in 6:37:38, approximately 13 minutes behind the AZIZA sisters. The British Army medical officer continues to combine competitive performance with her ongoing appreciation of the desert environment.
 

Course Withdrawal

Russian athlete ALEXEY Baboshin withdrew from the competition during Stage 4. Race medical and support staff confirmed the withdrawal was managed appropriately, with athlete welfare prioritized. Baboshin had competed successfully through the first three stages of the event.

Final Stage Preview

Stage 5, the concluding chapter of the Oman Desert Marathon, will commence at 08:00 hours following standard pre-race briefing protocols. The later start time has been scheduled to provide athletes with additional recovery time and adequate sleep following four consecutive days of intense competition.

The cumulative standings across four stages have established competitive hierarchies, though final rankings will be determined by tomorrow’s concluding performance and overall time calculations.

The wave start system will again be employed for Stage 5 to ensure a safe and effective event conclusion for all participants.
 

About the Oman Desert Marathon

The Oman Desert Marathon is a multi-stage ultra-endurance event conducted in the Bidiyah region of Oman. The event brings together international athletes competing across challenging desert terrain in both 165km and 100km divisions. Participants carry mandatory safety and survival equipment while navigating extreme environmental conditions. The event emphasizes athletic performance, participant safety, and environmental stewardship within the unique desert ecosystem of the Sultanate of Oman.