His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, has directed that the “Dubai Marathon” initiative be transformed into an annual event held across various shopping malls in Dubai, with expanded activities and extended duration to run for three consecutive months from June 15 to September 15 each year.

The directive aims to enhance the sustainability of the initiative’s impact and provide wider segments of the community the opportunity to participate, following the remarkable success of its first edition and the significant community engagement since its launch. The “Dubai Marathon” set a Guinness World Record as the largest running race of its kind inside a shopping mall, after Dubai Hills Mall hosted 1,392 participants of various nationalities and age groups in a single race.

A Leading Global Destination

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum praised the great success of the “Dubai Marathon” initiative and its world record, affirming that Dubai, under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, continues to innovate a pioneering global model in organizing community sports events, enhancing the role of sports as a pillar of quality of life, a means to empower society, and to instill values of cooperation and positivity among its members.

He said: “What we witnessed during a full month of unprecedented community interaction in the Dubai Marathon confirms that sports have become a common language and lifestyle in Dubai, a means of self-expression, and that building a healthy and active community is a goal achievable through innovative and comprehensive initiatives inspired by the spirit of Dubai. Today, we have directed that the Dubai Marathon be transformed into an annual event held over three months in various shopping malls across Dubai, aiming to sustain this successful model, expand its positive impact by providing greater participation opportunities for all community segments, and establish sports as a value and culture contributing to quality of life.”

He added: “We want every initiative in Dubai to leave an impact that does not end with the conclusion of its events but extends into people’s daily lives, becoming a starting point for sustainable transformations and a source of inspiration for community members, instilling in them a passion for activity, achievement, and giving. We want our initiatives to make a real difference, to become catalysts for positive change, and to become sustainable pathways for community development that create a positive individual who influences their society.”

The “Dubai Marathon” initiative concluded after a remarkable success over 31 days, attracting more than 40,000 participants of various nationalities and ages, who collectively recorded over 120 million steps on safe, fully air-conditioned indoor tracks prepared for running and walking in nine major shopping malls in Dubai.

The closing events included a 42-kilometer marathon with 40 competitors from various categories, in addition to a special race held in cooperation with the Dubai Sports Council on the occasion of “Emirati Women’s Day,” dedicated to women of different ages and nationalities.

The initiative’s events were officially sponsored by the Ministry of Defense and in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council throughout August. The launch of the “Dubai Marathon” initiative aligns with the goals of the “Year of the Community,” “Dubai Social Agenda 33,” and the “Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033,” which aim to build a healthy, active, and socially cohesive community through interactive social movement that reinforces healthy living values and the concept of sports as a daily habit contributing to improving quality of life.

Hamdan bin Mohammed:

• Under Mohammed bin Rashid’s vision, Dubai continues to innovate a pioneering global model in organizing community sports events.
• The unprecedented community interaction in the “Dubai Marathon” confirms that sports have become a common language and lifestyle in Dubai.
• We want our initiatives to become catalysts for positive change that create positive individuals influencing their communities.