As part of its ongoing commitment to raising community awareness and encouraging members of society to adopt a healthy lifestyle, Doha Festival City, Qatar’s leading shopping, entertainment and lifestyle destination, will host “RunFest 2026” on Friday, September 25. The indoor running festival is set to attract participants of different ages and fitness levels.

The event will run from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on a professional 1.3-kilometer running track equipped with an electronic chip timing system. Participants can register in five different race categories, including the 10 km race, 5 km race, 1 km fun run, 1 km junior race for children aged 8 to 12, and 500-meter race for children under 8 years old.

In addition, the festival will feature a vibrant event village designed to provide an entertaining atmosphere for both participants and visitors. It will include a main stage for live entertainment, designated areas for watching the races, expert-led warm-up sessions, exhibitor booths, as well as a range of interactive activities for visitors of all ages.

The event will conclude with an official awards ceremony, where the top finishers will be honored and presented with exclusive gift cards from Doha Festival City.

Commenting on the event, Mr. Torol Kummert, Asset Management Director at Doha Festival City, said: “We are always committed to reinforcing Doha Festival City’s position as a vibrant destination that enables the public to connect, enjoy themselves and enhance their well-being in a welcoming and immersive environment. As we place visitor experiences and community wellness at the forefront of our priorities from the moment they arrive at the mall, ‘RunFest 2026’ represents the latest and most prominent milestone in our journey toward achieving this goal.”

As part of this strategy, Doha Festival City signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Qatar Sports for All Federation last June, under the umbrella of the Ministry of Sports and Youth. The agreement aims to promote health, well-being and community participation across the country by providing more flexible and inclusive experiences for everyone to maintain their physical fitness.

The weekly running events organized by both parties to the agreement recorded more than 6,000 total participations between May and August 2026. This was followed by the launch of the 5,000 Steps Challenge for the first time, an inclusive step-tracking initiative that encourages visitors to stay physically active while walking inside the mall through a live leaderboard on the Qatar Sports for All Federation app.

Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Abdullah Al Dosari, Executive Director of the Qatar Sports for All Federation, said: “Our mission is to make physical activity accessible to all segments of our community and establish sports as part of daily life across Qatar. ‘RunFest 2026’ invites everyone to set personal goals and work toward achieving them, which aligns with our shared objectives and the country’s social and economic development strategy.”