DUBAI: As thousands of runners take part in the fifth edition of the Riyadh Marathon, no one will be prouder in the strides that the event has taken during that time than Prince Khaled bin Al-Waleed bin Talal.

The president of the Saudi Sports for All Federation, organizers of the race, has long championed marathon, as well as many other community sporting activities and competitions across the Kingdom.

“We’re on our fifth year, this is five years of increased participation from across Saudi,” he told Arab News as he prepared to join thousands of participants of Saturday. “Just this morning (Friday) I was tagged on social by a group of people flying in from Madinah to take part in the marathon. I love that we have people that come from all over the world for the marathon, but it really moves my heart when I am seeing people from all over the country make their way here to join us.”

Sports and wellness events like the marathon festival and the actual marathon itself, according to Prince Khaled, do so much “for community unity, for social fabric, for bringing together different cultures even within the Kingdom.”

Considering the sheer scope of the country’s landscape and the travel distances between cities, this is no small feat.

“As anyone would understand, Saudi is a massive landmass, and when you look at something as simple as different language habits and little social norms, you see them all coming together to intermingle for the marathon, and that brings us together even closer as a culture, as a country,” said Prince Khaled. “The SFA is proud to be the vehicle of unity and pride and togetherness for Saudi; there’s nothing like the feeling of seeing us all moving en masse with energy and excitement.

“We are supposed to be the body developing and strengthening Saudi community infrastructure, associations, and cultivating and creating resources that allow for a Saudi Arabia that doesn’t stop moving,” he added. 

“The SFA sees our Saudi leadership as a catalyst for this all; we are so fortunate to have King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pushing for a health-centric citizenry and society.”

The success of the past four editions has raised the profile of the Riyadh Marathon in double quick time; it is no longer the novelty it was five years ago, but a highlight of the sporting calendar.

“Saudi now has the marathon baked into its social fabric, the country’s leadership has transformed the country from even a infrastructural perspective to make Saudi a wellness nation — today, and for the past four years of the Riyadh Marathon,” Prince Khaled said.

“When we see people all over social media asking for registration to reopen after we cleared 50,000, we knew the change has reached all level of society. The change is a marked shift towards physical activity being a main driver of entertainment and excitement in the Kingdom, alongside, of course, all of the physical benefits, healthwise.”

A sign of the importance of the race can be seen in a the list of partners that has grown year on year, including the Ministry of Sport, Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Saudi Athletics Federation, National Events Center, Riyadh Municipality, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh Metro, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the Saudi Tourism Authority.

It is also sponsored by Alawwal Bank, Asics and Red Bull, among many other local and international names.

“I don’t want to tell you who just yet, but there’s a few ministers and vice ministers signed up to run,” said Prince Khaled.

“How cool is this? How engaged are our ministers that they have planned to join our people in this public expression of what it means to be Saudi in 2026. These are the people that are one with us, and lead with health and unity as an example. Look out for them during the 5 and 10 km, and two during the 21 km, but that’s all the hints I am giving as to which ministers are signed up to participate. It makes me really proud as president of SFA, and as a Saudi on a personal level.

“I also want to highlight our own Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, who is always laser-focused on the success of the Riyadh Marathon, and SFA’s activations in general,” he added.

“Vision 2030 set a goal of increasing the national level of physical activity from 13 percent to 40 percent by the end of the decade. We have far exceeded that goal, with physical activity levels already reaching 60 percent.”