By Desmond Nleya
Dubai made history once again as a record-breaking 307,000 people flooded Sheikh Zayed Road for Dubai Run 2025, turning the city’s busiest highway into the world’s biggest free community running track. The event — a flagship moment of the Dubai Fitness Challenge championed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE — transformed the iconic stretch into a vibrant river of runners framed by Dubai’s glittering skyline.
From toddlers in strollers to marathon pros, participants of all ages packed the seventh edition of the run, choosing between a 5km family route ending near Dubai Mall or a 10km challenge finishing at DIFC’s Gate Building. Both paths delivered postcard-worthy sights, including the Museum of the Future, Dubai Water Canal, and the towering Burj Khalifa, adding an electric, festival-like energy to the morning.
Participation in the Dubai Fitness Challenge has tripled since 2019, cementing the city’s reputation as a global hub for active living. Dubai Run 2025 was powered by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and Dubai Sports Council, along with strong support from public and private partners.
Now, the city gears up for the Dubai Yoga finale on November 30 at Zabeel Park, as a month of movement, wellness, and community spirit comes to a powerful close.
