Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 12th February 2025 – The Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) is celebrating record visitor and participant numbers at the inaugural 2025 SFA International Sporting Events, which combined the SFA Expo and the Riyadh Marathon for the first time.

The SFA Expo ran from February 5-7, 2025, held in the JAX District, with the Riyadh Marathon taking place on Saturday, February 8, 2025.

The SFA Expo attracted 35,359 visitors, offering interactive sports zones, fitness classes, health-focused exhibits, and the official bib collection point for the Riyadh Marathon participants. It served as a premier platform for industry professionals, sports enthusiasts, and businesses in the sports, wellness, and fitness industries.

One of the highlights was the Primal Race, a high-intensity functional fitness competition held on Friday, February 7, testing endurance, strength, and agility. Other attractions included panel discussions on sports innovation, AI, and well-being, interactive workout sessions, and a B2B lounge for industry networking.

The 2025 Riyadh Marathon, held on Saturday, February 8, was also a resounding success. An incredible 40,494 participants from 131 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Kenya, took part, marking a significant increase from the 20,000 runners in 2024. Organized by the Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Arabian Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the Saudi Arabian Athletic Federation, and Amanat AlRiyadh, the event welcomed participants of all ages and abilities, with US$210,000 in cash prizes for elite runners finishing top 10 in the marathon (42km) and top six in the half marathon (21km).

Four races took place in total, with the 10km and family-focused 4km also happening on the day. Runners in each followed a scenic and challenging route across Riyadh before finishing at Kingdom Arena. Among the participants, nearly 67% were Saudi nationals, underscoring the Kingdom’s growing enthusiasm for long-distance running. Additionally, the percentage of female participants is equal to 40% of the total entries.

First-place male and female winners in the elite marathon categories received US$30,000 each, with second and third-place winners earning US$20,000 and US$10,000, respectively. The first-place elite male marathon runner was Kenya’s Kemboi Emmanuel Kipchumba, recording a time of 2 hours 8 minutes, followed by Ethiopia’s Tilahun Abe Gashahun and Muniye Abebaw Dessie. The top elite female was Ethiopia’s Kebede Nestanet Gudeta, with a time of 2 hours 27 minutes, followed by Assefa Asmare Beyene and Amente Sorome Negash, also from Ethiopia.

For the half-marathon, the men’s and women’s winners each received US$5,000, with second and third-place winners taking home US$2,500 and US$2,000, respectively. The first-place elite male finisher was Ethiopia’s Batebo Bereke Nega, with a time of 1 hour 2 minutes, while Kenya’s Melly Vivian Jepkemei was the top elite female, finishing in 1 hour 11 minutes.

HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, President of the SFA, said: “The incredible number of attendees for the SFA’s international sporting events, and the significant increase of participation in the Riyadh Marathon, is a testament to the growing culture of health and fitness in Saudi Arabia. This event has not only showcased the Kingdom’s athletic talent but also its commitment to promoting wellness as a national priority.”

Shaima Saleh Al-Husseini, Managing Director of the SFA, said: “The success of this year’s combined events as part of the International Sporting Events highlights the SFA’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and active society. The increased participation in the Riyadh Marathon, particularly among Saudi nationals, and the overwhelming support from our sponsors reflect the positive impact of our initiatives under Vision 2030.”

Among the sponsors and supporters was Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), serving as the presenting partner of the Riyadh Marathon, with strategic partners ASICS and Tawuniya for both the SFA Expo and marathon, Gatorade and Aquafina are providing refreshments for both the Expo attendees and marathon runners. Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group Company (HMG) offered medical support at the SFA Expo.

For the Riyadh Marathon, partners also included Ford, who provided support cars, with KAFD offering pre-event activations, and MDL bringing DJs to help build the energy. Calo, JP Morgan, and Centrum also gave their support, with Joe & the Juice even creating a Riyadh Marathon drink as supporting partner, with branded staff merchandise. Kudu joined as an official partner to promote the Riyadh Marathon across its 300 branches, and BAE Systems was also an official partner.

Other sponsors and supporting partners for both events included Kayanee, while official partners Huawei provided awards. ASICS outfitted race participants, and JAX District served as venue partner for the SFA Expo. SPIMACO was an official partner for both events, with Delta Sports supporting the SFA Expo specifically.

The SFA looks forward to building on this success in future editions, continuing to inspire the Kingdom’s residents and visitors to lead healthier, more active lives.