Dubai Marathon

Course & Elevation

The Dubai Marathon is a January road race in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and the organisers call it the Middle East's oldest international marathon. The first international Dubai Marathon was staged in front of Al Wasl Sports Club on 14 January 2000. The 26th edition is on Sunday 17 January 2027, together with a 10 km road race and a 4 km fun run. The marathon starts at 6:30 a.m. on Al Taryam Road, near the boundary of the Police Academy. Runners go onto Al Sufouh Road for an out-and-back to the Dubai Media City entrance, passing Dubai College Junction, the Palm Island entrance and Madinat Jumeirah. They then run an out-and-back on Jumeirah Beach Road past the Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Marsa Al Arab, and that section is run twice. The finish is on the Police Academy parade ground in front of the academy grandstand. There is an official six-hour time limit, and marathon runners must be 18 or over. The course records are 2:03:34 for men, set by Getaneh Molla in 2019, and 2:16:07 for women, set by Tigist Ketema in 2024. The race is a World Athletics Gold Label road race.