Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates – 14th December 2021: Ras Al Khaimah Tourism and Development Authority (RAKTDA) today announced a slight date change as well as unveiled the prize purse value and the first two international elite athletes confirmed to participate in the 2022 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon.

 

Previously set to take place on Friday 18th February 2022, the 15th edition of the gold label race will now be held a day later on Saturday 19th February. This announcement follows the recent decision by the UAE goverment to introduce a new workday and weekend schedule, effective by 1st January 2022.

 

Participants at the upcoming race will be competing for a chance to win a piece of the total prize fund, worth AED 1,219,000, which will be distributed across the top of the elite athletes as well as other key categories. The organisers also revealed the first two international elite athletes confirmed to participate in next year’s highly anticipated event, Ethiopan female elite athlete and reigning champion of the 2020 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marthon, Ababel Yeshaneh and Ugandan male elite athlete, Jacob Kiplimo. 

Yeshaneh will be returning to defend her title and potentially beat her historic win and personal best time of 1:04:31. An experienced and highly sought after runner, she previously won both the 2019 Buenos Aires Half Marathon and the 2018 Istanbul Half Marathon as well as securing second place in the 2019 Chicago Marathon. 

 

Following a spectacular season which saw him complete the 2021 Lisbon Half Marathon, with a record breaking time of 57:31 and become the Half Marathon World Record Holder, Kiplimo is expected to set a quick pace and deliver fierce competition in the men’s category. The 21 year old athlete also took the crown as the Half Marathon World Champion in  Gdynia,  Poland in 2020 as well as being the 10,000M Bronze medalist in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.

 

Known as the world’s fastest half marathon, the 15th edition of the event will once again take place at the stunning Al Marjan Island, set against the picturesque backdrop of the Arabian Gulf, treating all athletes to pristine views of the nature-based Emirate’s white sandy beaches and shimmering coastline. The race consists of four different categories available for runners of all levels, including the Half Marathon, Relay – for teams of 2, 5KM and an improved fun run. Participants can look forward to an extended fun run route with the distance increased from 1KM to 1 MILE, or 1.6KM, allowing each runner to fully experience the beautiful race course and benefit from the support of spectators. 

 

Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority commented: “Now in its 15th year, the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon is a world class event and we are honored to see the race continue to gain traction on both a regional and international scale. The announcement of our first two elite runners, Ababel Yeshaneh and Jacob Kiplimo, both vying for the top spots, only adds to the immense excitement for next year’s race which is guaranteed to be an unforgettable day for all. As a fast-developing Emirate, organizing events such as Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon provide visitors with ample opportunities to engage, connect and come away with a better sense of community.” 

 

 

The World Athletics Gold Label race returns to mark its 15th edition, welcoming back elite athletes, running enthusiasts and amateurs from across the globe, to participate in the record-breaking event. Organized by RCS Sports and Events, participants can register now and choose from four categories, with early bird prices starting at AED 330 for the Half Marathon, AED 550 for the two-person Half Marathon Relay, AED 100 for the 5KM and AED 60 for the 1MILE fun run.

 

As the half marathon nears, RAKTDA continues to priortize the health and welfare of all participants and spectators in close coordination with the relevant government agencies to ensure a successful event. The event will take place with robust safety precautions to safeguard the health and wellbeing of participants and spectators. Precautions include a requirement for participants to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccincation.