Aspire Zone Foundation successfully concluded the first edition of Run the Dome 2026, held on 28 and 29 August at Aspire Dome, with strong participation from community members of different ages and nationalities. The two-day sporting event brought together participants in an energetic atmosphere filled with excitement, challenge, fun, and a strong spirit of competition.
The event featured four main categories: Open Women, Open Men, Qatari Women, and Qatari Men. Each group consisted of 20 participants who competed over a 4.8-kilometre course covering five laps inside Aspire Dome. Each race lasted 30 minutes, followed by a 10-minute break between groups preparing participants for the next race.
The races continued throughout the day until 8:00 PM, with winners in each category determined based on the fastest recorded times. The event was designed as an inclusive community sporting experience, welcoming participants of different fitness levels and providing them with a unique opportunity to take on a sporting challenge inside one of the world’s leading indoor sports facilities.
Success was not limited to securing a podium finish, as completing the race and crossing the finish line was an achievement in itself. All participants who completed the race received commemorative medals in recognition of their participation in the inaugural edition of the event.
Prize and Winners
A total of QAR 60,000 in prizes was awarded across the four categories. The winner in each category received QAR 7,000, while the second-place finisher received QAR 5,000 and the third-place finisher received QAR 3,000.
The winners from the four categories were:
Open Women:
- Nicole McIlvany
- Jawaher Araki
- Malak Shadi Mohammed
Open Men:
- Muhannad Khamis
- Shaker Afli
- Mohammed Amin Qasmi
Qatari Women:
- Nora Yousef Al-Mutawa
- Amina Al-Maarefi
- Amal Khalifa Al-Harbi
Qatari Men:
- Tamim Al-Kuwari
- Abdullah Mohammed Al-Minhali
- Khalid Faraj Al-Ali
The Run the Dome event also witnessed the notable presence of a number of prominent figures and sponsors, including H.E. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism; Mr. Khalid Al Mawlawi, Acting Director General of Aspetar; Mr. Ali Salem Afifa, Deputy Director General of Aspire Academy; Mr. Nasser Abdullah Al Hajri, Acting Director General of Aspire Logistics; Mr. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar; Mr. Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al Tamimi, CEO of Qatar Primary Materials Company; Eng. Abdulaziz Al Tamimi, President of the Qatar Cycling and Triathlon Federation; Mr. Ali Sultan Fakhroo, Chief Corporate Services Officer at Aspire Academy; Mr. Abdullah Al Dosari, Executive Director of the Qatar Sports for All Federation; Dr. Nora AbuHleqa, Founder and CEO of Qommunication; Mr. Jassim Mohammed Al Jaber, Chief of Education & Students Affairs Officer; Mr. Abdullah Ali Al Mawlawi, Director of Communications and Public Relations at Qatar Rail; and Mr. Abdullah Shaheen Al Kaabi, Secretary-General of the Qatar Cycling and Triathlon Federation.
Their presence reflects the growing interest in community sports and sporting events that bring together people from across the community.
On this occasion, Mr. Nasser Abdullah Al-Hajri, Acting Director General of Aspire Logistics, said:
“We congratulate all the winners and participants of the inaugural edition of Run the Dome and commend the outstanding performances and competitive spirit demonstrated by all participants. The race concluded on a remarkable note, reflecting the tremendous efforts and collaboration among all the teams and stakeholders involved in delivering a successful event. We are proud of this achievement and of our contribution to providing an exceptional and safe sporting experience for all participants. We wish everyone continued success and achievement in future editions.”
With the conclusion of its inaugural edition, Run the Dome brought the community together over two exciting days of running, competition, and celebration inside Aspire Dome.
Commenting on the success of the event, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Hassan, Events & Venues Director at Aspire Zone Foundation and Director of Run the Dome, said:
“The inaugural edition of Run the Dome represents a valuable addition to Aspire Zone Foundation’s sporting calendar. We were delighted with the strong turnout and enthusiastic participation from different segments of the community. Through this event, we aim to promote a culture of sport and physical activity, and we look forward to continuing to develop the event in future editions in a way that reflects Aspire Dome’s position as a world-class sporting destination.”
Commenting on the media success of the race, Mr. Fahad Ahmed Al-Mana, Communications Manager at Aspire Zone Foundation, said:
“We were delighted with the tremendous success of the inaugural edition of Run the Dome, which was accompanied by extensive media coverage and strong engagement across various media outlets and digital platforms. The diverse coverage helped showcase the atmosphere of the event, while highlighting the strong community participation and competitive spirit throughout the race. We greatly appreciate the efforts of all media outlets and media partners who contributed to covering the event and delivering its message to a wider audience, further reflecting Aspire Zone Foundation’s position and its role in supporting and promoting community sports in Qatar.”