Elite athletes chase gold at Dubai Marathon’s silver anniversary

The Dubai Marathon will see the biggest turnout of marathon runners in its history when the 42.195km marquee race gets underway on Sunday, marking the 25th edition of the Middle East’s oldest international race.

Held with the support of the Dubai Sports Council, the 2026 Dubai Marathon expects around 20,000 runners in total with some 4,000 lining up in the 42.195km classic race and over 15,000 taking part in the associated 10km Road Race and 4km Fun Run.

Widely recognised as one of the fastest and flattest courses in world athletics, the Dubai Marathon has a reputation for being a race where debutants can make a breakthrough – since 2012, the race has been won by eight men who had never previously run a marathon.

Ethiopian Gadisa Berhanu, who clocked 2:04:59 when winning the Sevilla Marathon in 2023 comes to Dubai fresh from a second place finish at the 2025 Lisbon Marathon and will be looking to end the hopes of the debutants.

“My training has gone well and I believe I’m in good shape to go for the win on Sunday.” he said.

The elites’ marathon will get underway at 5.45am with Ethiopia’s Fantu Worku heading the women’s field courtesy of an impressive marathon debut in Berlin last year.

The 26-year-old ran a fine 2:21:57 to finish fifth in Germany despite the race being run in very warm weather. A former middle and long distance track runner, Worku also has an impressive half marathon pedigree finishing runner-up at the 2024 Rome Half and fifth at the Yangzhou Jianzhen Half Marathon in China.

Also in the women’s elite field, 23-year-old Anchinalu Dessie Geneneh of Ethiopia comes to Dubai fresh from two wins from two starts in 2025 – she set a personal best 2:22:17 with victory on her debut at the Sevilla Marathon and followed that up with another win at the Beijing Marathon in November – while Ethiopian Tigst Getnet knows what running in Dubai is about having claimed her personal best of 2:23:17 when finishing fifth at the Dubai Marathon three years ago at the age of 19.

While global TV interest will focus on the elite battle in the marathon, the hugely popular 10km and 4km races will see thousands of local runners and visitors alike experience the unique atmosphere of the Dubai Marathon which, for the first time in its history, will see every runner share the same finish line on the parade ground of the Dubai Police Academy.

“We are extremely grateful to Dubai Police for their co-operation in welcoming us to the Academy grounds,” said Event Director Peter Connerton. “It is a fitting setting for the 25th anniversary race and allows us to stage a unique and busy runners’ village alongside the finish line where every runner can enjoy a variety of activations.”

The race start times will see the marathon elites starting at 5.45am before the general marathon masses cross the start line at 6.30am. The 10km run will begin at 8am with the 4km Fun Run getting underway at 10am. The Dubai Metro will also be operational from 5am on Sunday.

While runners will participate for a number of reasons, Run for Humanity is a collaborative community initiative led by Dubai Humanitarian for its members on the margins of the Dubai Marathon 2026.

Now in its second consecutive year, the campaign invites runners, supporters, and the wider community to use the Dubai Marathon as a platform to champion humanitarian action. Participants are encouraged to run to raise awareness for causes they care about, or to support directly through YallaGive turning community participation into tangible humanitarian impact.

This year, the campaign brings together 15 international non-profit organisations working across health, education, protection, humanitarian relief, and social development.

The 2026 Dubai Marathon is supported by ASICS, Dubai Sports Council, MG Motor, the Channel 4 Radio Network, ITP Media Group, Bisleri Water, Vitamin Well, Dubai RTA, Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality and Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection by IHG.