Doha to Host First-Ever IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon in Qatar

DOHA, Qatar / TAMPA, Fla. (December 3, 2025) - IRONMAN, the global leader in triathlon has today confirmed that Doha, Qatar will host a brand-new IRONMAN® 70. 3® event in early 2027. The Visit Qatar IRONMAN 70.3 Doha triathlon will mark the first IRONMAN-branded event to take place in Qatar, expanding the brand's footprint further into the Gulf Region. The announcement was made today at a signing ceremony in Doha, attended by Scott DeRue, CEO of The IRONMAN Group, and Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar.

The inaugural event is expected to bring athletes and supporters from around the world to experience an unforgettable race experience in the heart of Qatar. Doha will join a select number of capital cities globally to host an IRONMAN 70.3 event.

Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, said: "Bringing the IRONMAN 70.3 series to Qatar reflects our continued ambition to position the country as a leading global hub for major international sporting events. This partnership strengthens Qatar's growing sports tourism sector and showcases our ability to deliver world-class experiences supported by exceptional infrastructure, seamless connectivity, and an unmatched visitor offering. Together with our partners, we are committed to delivering a race that reflects Qatar's ambition, capability, and world-leading standards."

Athletes can look forward to a warm sea swim, followed by bike and run courses that showcase some of the city's most iconic landmarks. This will be city centre racing at its finest, and athletes can expect comfortable and dry temperatures. The race will offer additional early season qualifying opportunities for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship event and also act as a perfect season-opener for athletes planning on doing a spring or summer IRONMAN event.

Scott DeRue, CEO of The IRONMAN Group said: "We have long been excited to bring the IRONMAN brand to Doha, and we are immensely grateful for the opportunity. With its stunning architecture, rich culture, and proven ability to host world-class sporting events, I have no doubt that Doha will offer our athletes a truly unique race experience.

"None of this would be possible without the partnership and collaboration with Visit Qatar, the driving force behind many of the major events hosted in Qatar, and who we know will be world-class hosts for this event. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to bring the very best of triathlon to one of the most exciting cities in the region." DeRue added.

The Gulf region is fast becoming an exciting hub for endurance sport, and this announcement follows the success of IRONMAN events in other Gulf countries such as Oman, Bahrain, and the Emirates which have welcomed local athletes, as well as those travelling from the likes of Europe, North America and India. With 23 IRONMAN 70.3 triathlons already sold out globally for the 2026 season, the 2027 Visit Qatar IRONMAN 70.3 Doha triathlon will help meet the growing demand from athletes in the Gulf region, as well as the rise of destination racing from international athletes.

Doha is not only a rapidly growing tourism destination - praised for its award-winning architecture, cultural attractions, and world-class hospitality - but is also recognized as a hub for major international sporting events. Over the past decade, the city has invested into sporting infrastructure, advanced cooling technologies and travel accessibility. The city hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022, strengthening its reputation on the global stage. In 2019, the city welcomed the World Athletics Championships at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium and has hosted the Qatar Tennis Open since 1993. Additionally, the city continues to host elite events such as the Qatar Airways Formula One Grand Prix, MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix and mass participation events such as the Doha Marathon. Looking ahead, Doha is gearing up to host the 2030 Asian Games, further cementing its status as a major sports capital within the region.

In partnership with IRONMAN, the race will be operated by MGE - Middle East Global Events, a premier sports event organizer with more than a decade of experience delivering world-class endurance competitions. MGE has been the official operator of all IRONMAN-branded events in Oman since 2018. The company was founded by Mohammed Al Obaidani, an IRONMAN athlete himself. His deep understanding of the sport and the athlete experience drives his passion for creating exceptional race experiences. He will be partnering with Abdulla Al Kaabi, the first Qatari athlete to ever compete at the IRONMAN World Championship and founder of the A13 triathlon academy in Doha.

General registration will be announced in 2026. To register interest visit: www.ironman.com/races/im703-doha. For further information about the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit: www.ironman.com. For further information, please contact: [email protected].

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About Visit Qatar
Visit Qatar is the main arm of Qatar Tourism. Visit Qatar's mission is to promote and expand tourism in Qatar by cultivating its rich culture, developing thrilling attractions, enhancing Qatar's calendar, becoming the leading MICE destination in the region, diversifying events and luxury experiences. Visit Qatar is rooted in Service Excellence, boosting the entire tourism value chain, and increasing local and international visitor demand in Qatar. Through Visit Qatar's network of international offices in priority markets, cutting-edge digital platforms, and marketing campaigns, Visit Qatar is expanding Qatar's presence globally and enhancing the tourism sector. Visit: www.visitqatar.com

About The IRONMAN Group
The IRONMAN Group is the world's largest operator of participation sports with a portfolio of brands, events, media, partners, merchandise, and digital platforms operating in over 50 countries worldwide. A global portfolio consisting of hundreds of events includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, IRONKIDS®, premier running events including the Rock 'n' Roll® Running Series, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf®, the UTMB® World Series of trail running, the Epic Series™ of mountain biking including the Absa Cape Epic®, and a collection of road cycling and other multisport races. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, millions of athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. From its beginnings as a single race among friends in Hawai'i, The IRONMAN Group has become a global sensation and collection of high-growth lifestyle brands that inspire people to unlock their potential in life. For more information, visit https://www.ironman.com/about/ironman-group