By Staff Reporter
ABU DHABI, July 31, 2026 – The Abu Dhabi Sports Council has officially opened registration for the eighth edition of the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon, which will take place on December 12, 2026, bringing together elite international athletes, amateur runners, and thousands of fitness enthusiasts from around the world.
The annual event has become one of the UAE’s premier sporting occasions, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a global destination for major sporting events while promoting healthy lifestyles and encouraging greater community participation in sport.
Participants can choose from four race categories, including the 42.195-kilometre full marathon, 10-kilometre race, 5-kilometre race, and a 2.5-kilometre family and children’s run, ensuring opportunities for runners of all ages and abilities.
To help participants prepare for race day, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council will organise two warm-up events. The first will be held in Al Dhannah on October 24, featuring a 10km race, while the second will take place in Al Ain Region on November 7, centred around a 21.1km half marathon. Both races are designed to help runners assess their fitness and improve their readiness for the main event.
The marathon is expected to attract thousands of professional and recreational runners, building on its reputation as one of the region’s leading road-running events known for high-quality organisation, strong competition, and vibrant community participation.
Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Aref Hamad Al Awani, said the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon has evolved into one of the region’s flagship annual sporting events, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s vision of enhancing quality of life through sport and physical activity.
He said staging preparatory races in Al Dhannah and Al Ain supports the council’s strategy of expanding sporting opportunities across the emirate while helping participants improve their performance ahead of the marathon.
Al Awani added that the event continues to attract increasing numbers of participants from the UAE and overseas each year, thanks to Abu Dhabi’s world-class sporting infrastructure and organisational capabilities. He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to delivering another successful edition that further strengthens the emirate’s standing on the international sporting stage.
Since its launch in 2018, the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon has experienced remarkable growth. The inaugural event welcomed more than 10,000 runners, increasing to over 16,000 in 2019. Following a pandemic-related postponement, the marathon returned in 2021 with nearly 12,000 participants under COVID-19 precautionary measures.
Participation climbed to more than 20,000 runners in 2022, around 25,000 in 2023, and over 33,000 participants representing more than 150 nationalities in 2024. The seventh edition attracted more than 37,000 runners, highlighting the marathon’s growing international appeal.
As part of race week celebrations, the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon Fan Village will open from December 7, 2026, offering sporting activities, entertainment, educational programmes, and family-friendly experiences ahead of marathon day, creating one of the region’s largest community sporting festivals.
