Shaheen has prior knowledge of the Holyrood course

Shaheen comes up against 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele on 14 January.

Matthew Turnbull, the race's elite athletics director, says Shaheen is confident of testing Bekele.

"The fact he took time to think about returning and knew Bekele was in the race is an indication he feels he can produce a top performance," he added.

Shaheen quit Kenya to represent Qatar two years ago.

Ukrainian Sergiy Lebid, who won a sixth European cross country gold medal last month, and Zersenay Tadesse, of Eritrea, will also compete and Turnbull added: "The men's field has now levelled out almost perfectly."