The Ultra Mirage El Djérid: A Global Adventure at the Crossroads of Continents and Cultures
The adventure began modestly in 2017 with about sixty runners. Nine years later, the Ultra Mirage El Djérid (UMED) has established itself as a benchmark competition, at the crossroads of continents and cultures. For this 2025 edition, the event has reached a milestone with a record number of participants and new initiatives that put Tozeur in the international spotlight.
Indeed, with 500 participants, including 350 runners representing 28 nationalities, the Ultra Mirage 2025 confirms its universal vocation. Runners from the five continents - from New Zealand to Canada, via Japan, Europe, and Africa - will converge on the Tunisian Sahara to take on the desert challenge. The event promises to be a crossroads of cultures, where physical endurance blends with human sharing.
This year's flagship novelty is the start from Lac Chamsa, an iconic natural reserve in Tozeur. This choice promises a unique setting, between aquatic landscapes and golden dunes, sublimated by the changing lights of the sun.
Historic partner of the Ultra Mirage for nine years, Assurances BIAT plays a determining role in the event's sustainability and growth. For its General Manager, Mehdi Masmoudi, this support goes far beyond a simple sponsorship. "Since 2017, we have been building a common vision with the organizers. The Ultra Mirage is not just a competition, it's a human adventure. We want to democratize ultra-trail while contributing to local development and the empowerment of young people," he said during a press conference held today in Tunis.
In this logic, the company is consolidating its social commitment. After setting up a multipurpose room at the Tozeur Youth House, it is inaugurating this year a multimedia room equipped with a robotics club to encourage innovation among young people.
A More Open and Inclusive Race
Among the new features, the creation of the "Assurances BIAT Trail 25 km by Ultra Mirage" marks a turning point. Designed to democratize trail running, this intermediate distance is aimed at those who want to experience the event without facing the 100 or 50 km challenges.
A lively departure village will enrich this edition, combining local craftsmanship, cultural animations, and a festive atmosphere. Tozeur's artisans will benefit from unique visibility, with the opportunity to sell their creations to participants from around the world.
For Amir Ben Gacem, founder and organizer of the UMED, this edition embodies the project's maturity. "In 2017, we were just a handful of enthusiasts. Today, the Ultra Mirage is a pilgrimage for runners from all over the world. It's an alliance of trust and values that has allowed Tozeur to become an essential destination for international trail running," he emphasized.
He also recalls the key role of the partnership with Assurances BIAT, which supported the event even in difficult times, particularly during the pandemic.
But beyond sports, the Ultra Mirage acts as an economic and tourist lever. Each participant becomes an ambassador for the region, taking away unique memories and local artisanal products. And next September, Tozeur will not only be the capital of the desert: it will be the beating heart of a shared human adventure around the world.
