The Center East nation levels the extremely advisable Dubai Marathon and Rak Half-Marathon early within the new yr
Planning your street racing calendar for 2026? In that case, why not goal one of many nice occasions within the United Arab Emirates?
The Dubai Marathon takes place on February 1. Or how in regards to the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon two weeks afterward February 14?
The realm has sensible climate, nice folks and tradition, reasonably priced buying and a world-class infrastructure, plus a spread of occasions and actions that make the UAE one of many world’s greatest supreme vacationer locations.
The UAE has additionally put itself on the operating map in recent times.
The Dubai Marathon is a quick course and likewise an attention-grabbing place if you wish to mix your operating with sight-seeing. Dubai’s linear format makes it simple to navigate, with the airport minutes from key areas akin to Dubai Creek, Downtown and the Marina.
You possibly can take pleasure in award-winning eating places, sensible seashores such because the white sands of Kite Seaside and the splendour of Dubai’s heritage quarter – and with wonderful waterslides and theme parks, there may be all the things you must loosen up both earlier than or after the marathon.
The 2026 occasion can be the twenty fifth anniversary of the race and its course information of two:03:34 by Geteneh Molla and a couple of:16:07 by Tigist Ketema, illustrate why it is among the world’s quickest marathons.
The 2025 Dubai Marathon winners have been Bute Gemechu of Ethiopia in 2:04:51 and Bedatu Hirpa of Ethiopia in 2:18:27.
For extra in regards to the Dubai Marathon, see right here.
The RAK Half, in the meantime, options 4 totally different race distances obtainable on Al Marjan Island within the UAE with the selection of tackling 2km, 5km, 10km or the half-marathon.
Not solely does Ras Al Khaimah stage probably the greatest half-marathon races on the earth, however it is among the most ‘must-see’ cities with sensible climate, very good infrastructure, golden seashores and world class eating and buying.
With a unprecedented historical past courting again over seven millennia, the northernmost Emirate within the UAE has turn into some of the wanted locations within the Center East.
For these travelling to the emirate, keep in mind there is no such thing as a exhausting border crossing from Ras Al Khaimah and its neighbouring emirates, together with Dubai. So you possibly can journey freely between Ras Al Khaimah and the opposite bordering emirates with none restrictions.
With the 2026 race being on February 14, you could possibly even mix it with a Valentine’s Day get-away.
On the race itself, the course has seen a number of world information through the years. In 2007 Sammy Wanjiru ran a males’s world document of 58:53 within the RAK Half. Since then there have additionally been three girls’s world information with Mary Keitany clocking 65:50 in 2011, Peres Jepchirchir operating 64:52 in 2017 and Abal Yeshaneh with 64:31 in 2020.
Extra just lately, in 2022, Jacob Kiplimo and Girmawit Gebrzihair ran course information of 57:56 and 64:14 respectively, whereas Eilish McColgan (under) clocked a British document of 66:26.
In 2025 Alex Matata of Kenya received the RAK Half in 59:20 with Ejgayehu Taye of Ethiopia (pictured above) successful the ladies’s race in 65:52.
Discover out extra in regards to the RAK Half and enter right here.