Dubai Marathon 2027

The Dubai Marathon returns to Dubai on Sunday 17 January 2027 for its 26th edition, with a full 42.195km marathon, a 10km Road Race and a 4km Fun Run all setting off in the Umm Suqeim and Al Sufouh area. First run on 14 January 2000, it is the Middle East’s oldest international marathon, and it is held with the support of the Dubai Sports Council and listed on Dubai Calendar, the city’s official events calendar. Registration for runners is already open.

Three distances on one morning means the race works for very different people: elite athletes chasing fast times, club runners aiming for a 10km personal best, and families who simply want to cover 4km together in the cool January air.

A Dubai Marathon with a fast pedigree

Few races in the region carry this kind of history. In 2008 the organisers offered a million-dollar bonus for a world record, and Haile Gebrselassie won that year in 2:04:53, at the time the second-fastest marathon ever run. The men’s course record of 2:03:34 was set by Getaneh Molla in 2019, and the event has built its reputation as a race where elite runners chase fast times.

The 25th edition in February 2026 continued the pattern. Ethiopia’s Nibret Melak won the men’s race in 2:04:00 on his marathon debut, and Anchinalu Dessie took the women’s title in a personal best of 2:18:31, the fifth year in a row that both winners came from Ethiopia. Across the three distances, that anniversary edition drew around 20,000 participants, including a record 4,000 marathon runners. ASICS is the presenting sponsor, and the 2026 race was billed as the Dubai Marathon presented by ASICS.

The three races and their start times

Starts are staggered through the morning so each race has room on the road. The marathon begins on Umm Suqeim Road, with the elite field away at 5:45am and the mass start at 6:30am. It is open to runners aged 18 and over, and there is a six-hour time limit at the finish line, with roads reopening in phases behind the field. Runners who fall behind the schedule may be asked to complete their race on the footpaths for safety.

The 10km Road Race sets off at 8am on Al Sufouh, just after Madinat Jumeirah and close to the Burj Al Arab, and is open to runners aged 15 and over. The 4km Fun Run follows at 10am from the same stretch of Al Sufouh and is open to all ages, which makes it the natural choice for families, younger children and anyone new to running events. With the Burj Al Arab rising behind the start line, both shorter races have one of the most photographed backdrops of any road race in the city.

Support on the marathon course

The marathon route has water stations every 2.5km between the 5km and 40km points, with hydration drinks available at 15km intervals. Medical stations and toilets are placed every 5km along the course. The route itself has been redrawn many times over the years as the city has grown, so the 2027 layout and finish locations are published in the Routes and Maps section of the official Dubai Marathon website. It is worth studying before race day, especially if you are planning where friends and family can stand to cheer.

Once you cross the line, a finish area with entertainment and food is set up for runners and supporters. The event team is led by Event Director Peter Connerton, with Ahmed Al Kamali as General Co-ordinator.

Which distance suits you

The full marathon is for experienced distance runners and anyone who has built up a proper training block. A mid-January date means you can train through November and December, when Dubai’s weather is far kinder for long runs than in the summer months. Club runners who prefer speed to endurance will find the 10km a good target, with an 8am start that still beats the heat of the day.

The 4km Fun Run is the inclusive option. There is no minimum age, so parents can take part with children, and it is short enough for people who have never entered a race before. If you have been getting active during the Dubai Fitness Challenge, the Fun Run or 10km gives you a concrete goal to keep going into the new year.

Spectators are part of the experience too. Because the races run through Umm Suqeim and Al Sufouh, supporters can watch from the roadside and meet runners in the finish area afterwards. Remember that roads in the area are closed while the races are on, so check the official route maps when planning how to get there and back.

How to register

Entries are made through the official Dubai Marathon website, dubaimarathon.org, which links to the race’s online registration portal. Individual and group entries are both available, and the age rules are strict: 18 and over for the marathon, 15 and over for the 10km, and open to all for the 4km. Choose your distance carefully before you register.

For more races and matches across the country, see our guide to sports events in the UAE. If you are planning a wider visit, browse things to do in Dubai, and see what else is on in the city this winter in our things to do in January guide.

After more than a quarter of a century, the Dubai Marathon remains one of the city’s defining January mornings: a world-class elite race and a community running day on the same streets, a few hours apart.