Step of Life Marathon 2026

The Step of Life Marathon is a free community running evening at Al Mamzar Beach in Dubai on Saturday 28 November 2026, with five short races between 4:30pm and 9:30pm. Organised by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (IACAD) under the slogan “A Step Towards a Healthier Life”, and delivered on the ground by Endurance Sports Services, it is a marathon in name only: the longest race is 5km, and every distance is open for free registration.

A marathon in name, a fun run in spirit

The point of the evening is participation rather than performance. Instead of one long race, the programme spreads five distances across the late afternoon and evening, so there is a start line for every age and fitness level and the beach stays busy for hours. Entry to every race is listed as free on Hopasports, which makes it one of the few timed community runs in Dubai that a whole family can enter without paying race fees. The event opens at 4pm with race pack collection, and the evening closes with an awards ceremony at 10:30pm.

Five races from late afternoon into the night

• 5km at 4:30pm, for ages 16 to 99.
• 3km at 6:30pm, for ages 13 to 99.
• 1.5km at 8:30pm, for ages 13 to 99.
• 1km Juniors at 9pm, for children aged 12 and under.
• 500m People of Determination at 9:30pm, open to all ages.

The order is worth noting. The 5km sets off in the late afternoon, while the shorter races run after dark, and the junior and People of Determination races close the night. A parent can run the 5km early and still be at the line to cheer a child in the 9pm junior race, and families with young children can plan their arrival around the race they have entered.

Running at Al Mamzar

All five races start and finish at Al Mamzar Beach, at the northern tip of Deira close to the Sharjah border, where a beach park wraps around a lagoon. It is a familiar weekend spot for families on that side of the city, and an evening race here suits residents of Deira, Al Qusais and Al Nahda who rarely have an organised run on their doorstep. The organiser lists parking, toilets, changing rooms and showers, four support stations along the course and a registered nurse or emergency medical team on site. The course is rated easy and is classed as road running. Find out more on our Al Mamzar Beach page.

A start line for People of Determination

The closing 500m race for People of Determination is something many larger events leave out. Open to all ages, it gives adapted runners and walkers their own start and an audience of families who have stayed for the evening, and it rounds off a programme designed so that nobody is left on the sidelines.

What runners receive

Timing is automated, results come with an electronic certificate, and the listing includes a photo service, T-shirts and medals for finishers, with winners’ medals and cash prizes for the podium. For a free event, that is a generous package, and it makes the evening a good first race for anyone who has never pinned on a number before. School groups and colleagues looking for a team activity will also find the short distances easy to manage.

Registration

Places are booked through the Step of Life Marathon page on Hopasports, where each race is a separate free entry. Registration opened on 8 November and closes on Friday 27 November 2026, or sooner if the races fill.

More runs this season

Pair it with the Dubai Run on Sheikh Zayed Road. Browse more sports events in the UAE, see things to do in November, or explore things to do in Dubai.