Sharm El Sheikh Half Marathon 2026 Guide

EGYPT · SPORT GUIDE

The Sharm El Sheikh Half Marathon returns for its 15th edition on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. Entry is open to international runners until 21 November.

The Sharm El Sheikh Half Marathon takes place on Saturday, 28 November 2026, on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. The 15th edition offers 5K, 10K and 21K races, and the late registration phase runs until 21 November.

International runners pay EUR 55, 65 or 75 depending on distance (about US$62, US$73 or US$84). The State Department rates Egypt Level 3, reconsider travel, and says Sharm El Sheikh may be reached only by air.

Why the Sharm El Sheikh Half Marathon Matters to US Runners

Sharm El Sheikh is a Red Sea resort city at the southern tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. The race lets a visitor pair a winter coastal break with a measured road run.

AIMS, the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, lists the race, and the organiser says the half marathon is AIMS certified. AIMS calls it the 15th edition and names Event Sports, based in Cairo, as organiser.

No qualifying time is required for any distance, so first-time racers can enter. Minimum ages are 8 for the 5K, 10 for the 10K and 16 for the half marathon, counted by birth year.

The organiser has not published a field size or a list of elite entrants. Treat the race as a destination run rather than a major international championship.

Race Day Schedule in US Eastern Time

Egypt Today reports that summer time ends on the last Thursday of October, which is 29 October 2026. Race day runs on UTC+2, and New York is on Standard Time, so Egypt is seven hours ahead.

Race pack pick-up is on Friday, 27 November, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm local time. That is 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Eastern on the same Friday.

Pick-up is at the Official Hotel, Dreams Beach Resort, and the organiser lists no other collection point. Bring your registration confirmation and passport, because the page does not say what identification is checked.

On Saturday, 28 November, runners arrive at Ras Mohamed National Park from 6:00 am to 6:30 am. A warm-up and final announcements follow at 6:45 am.

The 5K, 10K and half marathon all start at 7:00 am, which is midnight Eastern on Saturday. The awards ceremony is at 10:00 am local time, or 3:00 am Eastern.

A three-hour cut-off applies to every race, measured from the half marathon start. That puts the cut-off at 10:00 am local time, the same hour as the awards.

Distances, Course and Timing

The route follows Red Sea coastal roads with the Sinai mountains in view, according to the organiser. Its page shows a course map image but gives no written route details.

Timing uses the MyLaps system, and every runner receives a bib with a timing chip. Results are published overall and by age group, with a link to Sporthive on the organiser’s site.

The entry fee covers an official T-shirt, a finisher medal, a digital certificate and access to race photos. It also covers hydration and refreshment stations and on-site medical support.

The top three men and top three women in each distance receive special awards. The organiser lists no prize money, so do not assume cash prizes.

Racing follows international athletics rules and Egyptian Athletics Federation regulations, and the organiser may carry out random drug testing. The page names the rules as IAAF rules, the former name of World Athletics.

Entry Fees and How to Register

Registration is through the organiser’s site, egyptianmarathon.com, which links to the event page. The page labels the late phase as current, and that phase runs from 1 October to 21 November.

International runners pay EUR 55 for the 5K and EUR 65 for the 10K (about US$62 and US$73). The half marathon costs EUR 75 (about US$84).

Egyptians and residents pay EGP 1,000 for the 5K and EGP 1,100 for the 10K (about US$18 and US$20). The half marathon costs them EGP 1,200 (about US$22).

Taxes, fees and other charges are added at checkout, so the final price will be higher. Dollar conversions use open.er-api.com rates of 22 October 2026.

Earlier phases from June to September were cheaper, starting at EUR 40 (about US$45) for the 5K. Only the late phase is open now.

The organiser’s page states no separate closing date and no field limit. Because the late phase ends on 21 November, register well before then.

The organiser also promotes accommodation packages for race week through travel agencies linked on its site. Package contents and prices are not published on the page.

Getting to Sharm El Sheikh and Ras Mohamed

Sharm El Sheikh sits on the southern tip of Sinai, and the State Department says travel there is allowed only by air. Do not plan an overland route through Sinai, which its country page rates Level 4, do not travel.

The organiser names Dreams Beach Resort as the Official Hotel and the place for race pack pick-up. It publishes no room rates, so compare prices with other hotels before booking.

Race morning starts at Ras Mohamed National Park, with arrival from 6:00 am to 6:30 am. The organiser publishes no shuttle plan, parking details or distance from town.

Ask the Official Hotel or the organiser how runners reach the park before 6:30 am. Do this before you book, because the answer may decide where you stay.

Flight options from the United States were not verified for this guide, so check airlines and connections early. Plan to land by Friday afternoon to make the 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm pick-up window.

Safety and Entry Rules for US Visitors

The State Department rates Egypt Level 3, reconsider travel due to terrorism, in an advisory dated 15 October 2024. It lists Northern and Middle Sinai, the Western Desert and some border areas as Level 4, do not travel.

The department’s country page goes further and rates the Sinai Peninsula Level 4, with one exception. It says travel to Sharm El Sheikh is permitted only by air.

The advisory warns that attacks can happen with little warning and have targeted tourist sites, transport hubs, resorts and restaurants. Stay alert in crowds and follow the instructions of race marshals and hotel security.

Demonstrations without a permit are illegal, and US citizens have been detained for protesting or for critical social media posts. Avoid any protest and think before you post.

Egypt treats dual US-Egyptian citizens as Egyptians, which limits consular help if they are detained. The department advises medical insurance with evacuation cover and enrolment in its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.

The country page shows a passport valid for six months and at least one blank page. Its visa section is empty, so confirm visa rules with an Egyptian embassy or consulate before you book.

Check the advisory again just before departure, because ratings can change without notice. Emergency services are limited across the Sinai Peninsula, so carry insurance details and a charged phone.

Planning Your Trip

Families can mix distances, since the 5K starts at the same time as the half marathon. Children must meet the minimum ages of 8 for the 5K and 10 for the 10K.

Weather, hotel prices, airport transfers and Ras Mohamed park entry fees are not published on the organiser’s page. Check each one before you commit to non-refundable bookings.

The 7:00 am start means an early wake-up and a pre-dawn trip to the park. Pack your race kit, shoes and a small bag the night before, and eat early.

The organiser promises hydration and refreshment stations, but it does not list their spacing or what they serve. Carry your own fuel if you rely on a specific product.

How to Watch From the United States

The organiser has announced no live broadcast or livestream, and no US broadcaster has been named. Results will appear on Sporthive, which the organiser links from its site.

The start falls at midnight Eastern, late on Friday night in the United States. Follow the organiser on Instagram under the name egyptianmarathon for photos and announcements.

What It Means for You

For a US runner, this is a destination race, with international entry of about US$62 to US$84 before flights and hotels. The half marathon is the longest distance on offer.

Register before 21 November through the organiser only, and keep your confirmation. Check the State Department advisory, your insurance and your passport before you book flights.

What Is Not Known

The organiser has not published the exact start line, a written route, prize money or a field limit. It also lists no shuttle plan, hotel prices or park entry fees.

AIMS posted a notice of a date change on 7 January 2026, but its text could not be opened. The AIMS race page and the organiser both now show 28 November, so confirm with the organiser before booking.

No live broadcast has been announced, and no elite entrants have been named. Flight options from the United States and visa steps for US citizens were not confirmed for this guide.

Connected Coverage

The Rio Times Egypt hub and its Cairo city page cover daily life and costs in the country. Read Egypt Security and Crime Explained 2026 before you travel.

Other Egyptian races include the Luxor Marathon on 8 January 2027 and the Pyramids Half Marathon near Cairo. Sharm El Sheikh also hosts the Zamna Festival on 20 November, eight days before the race.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Sharm El Sheikh Half Marathon in 2026?

The 15th Sharm El Sheikh Half Marathon is on Saturday, 28 November 2026. Races start at 7:00 am Egypt time, which is midnight Eastern.

How much does it cost to enter from the United States?

Late-phase international entry is EUR 55, 65 or 75 for the 5K, 10K or half marathon (about US$62, US$73 or US$84). Taxes and fees are added at checkout.

What time does the race start in US Eastern time?

All three races start at 7:00 am local time on Saturday, 28 November, which is midnight Eastern. Awards at 10:00 am local time are 3:00 am Eastern.

Is Sharm El Sheikh safe for US runners?

The State Department rates Egypt Level 3, reconsider travel, and says Sharm El Sheikh may be reached only by air. Check the advisory again before you book.

Sources: Egyptian Marathon, 15th Sharm El Sheikh Half Marathon (organiser); Egyptian Marathon, organiser site; AIMS race record, Sharm El Sheikh Half Marathon; AIMS race calendar; US State Department, Egypt travel advisory; US State Department, Egypt country information; Egypt Today, winter time guide; open.er-api.com exchange rates (all accessed 22 October 2026).

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