HUAIROU (WAM)
The Higher Organising Committee of the Zayed Charity Run, in partnership with the People’s Government of Huairou District, China, has announced the completion of preparations to stage the Great Wall Marathon of Huairou and Zayed Charity Run 2026.
The event will be held for the second consecutive year in Huairou District, Beijing, on 27 September 2026, with runners from the UAE, China and various countries around the world taking part.
This year’s Zayed Charity Run and Great Wall Marathon of Huairou are being organised in cooperation with the Huairou District People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, the Beijing Athletics Association and the district’s Sports Bureau, in partnership with the Zayed Charity Run and with the support of the UAE Embassy in Beijing.
The main marathon will cover 42 kilometers, while the half marathon will cover 21 kilometers, with 15,000 participants from around the world expected to take part in the race, which is classified as an A1 event by the Chinese Athletics Association.
The press conference announcing the completion of preparations was attended by Hussain Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to China, along with senior government officials and representatives of the Huairou District People’s Government.
Also in attendance were prominent officials from the sports, political and cultural sectors at the national, municipal and local levels, representatives of the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau and the Chinese Athletics Association, diplomats, media representatives, partners and sponsors from the UAE and China, as well as running groups.
Lt. General (Rtd.) Mohamed Helal Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of the Zayed Charity Run, said the race is returning to Beijing for the second consecutive year following the success of last year’s edition.
He noted that the participation of 15,000 runners from the UAE, China and various countries around the world demonstrates the initiative’s ability to bring thousands of people together around sport and a shared humanitarian cause.
Lt. General Al Kaabi added that the Zayed Charity Run reflects the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his enduring values of giving and extending a helping hand to others.
He stressed the importance of allocating part of the race proceeds to charitable causes, ensuring that humanitarian impact remains at the heart of the initiative and that every sporting and organisational achievement becomes an opportunity to have a positive and tangible impact on society.
For his part, Al Hammadi said that the Zayed Charity Run carries a message that goes beyond sport, reflecting the UAE’s deep-rooted legacy of giving and serving humanity, adding that the race embodies the belief that initiatives bringing people together for good can create an impact that transcends geographical boundaries.
“From the Great Wall of China, we affirm that sport can serve as a space for fostering friendships and solidarity, and as a platform for promoting understanding among communities,” he said, adding that the initiative is an extension of the strong UAE-China relations based on mutual respect, trust and constructive cooperation.