KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)
On Sunday, 278,000 runners descended on Dubai’s famous Sheikh Zayed road for what would end up being a record-breaking number for the annual event, growing a whopping 23% from last year.
Social media was abuzz with what appeared from a distance to be a flowing river of green-laden runners closing the city’s main arterial road in the early hours of the morning.
“Today’s event reflects the city’s energy, its relentless pursuit of excellence, and the community’s awareness of the importance of sports and fitness,” Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, said on X after leading the historic Dubai Run on Sunday.
In recent years, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have experienced a significant surge in sports participation and active lifestyles, driven by government initiatives, world-class events, and community engagement.
Both emirates have launched programmes to promote physical activity among residents. In Abu Dhabi, the “Active Parks” initiative offers free fitness classes across 12 locations, with the aim of encouraging community members to utilise public parks and green spaces. Similarly, Dubai's “Dubai Fitness Challenge” has aimed to motivate residents to engage in 30 minutes of daily exercise for 30 days.
Moreover, initiatives like Abu Dhabi's “Active Abu Dhabi” aim to involve over 25,000 students in physical activities by the end of 2024, and the “Walk 1000” campaign encourages residents to walk 1,000 kilometres across the emirate, promoting health and fitness.
These initiatives have coincided with the UAE increasingly centring itself as a global hub for major international sports.
Abu Dhabi's annual Formula One Grand Prix, the UFC and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship attract top athletes and enthusiasts worldwide whilst Dubai hosts events like the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race, and the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships.
Much of this is underwritten by substantial investment in infrastructure that has included sports infrastructure, venues and public spaces to accommodate various activities like cycling, running, walking and sports like padel, basketball and football.
2024 still has much in stall for the growing number of active sports enthusiasts in the country. On November 26, the “Walk or Cycle for Life event” at Meydan Cycle Track in Dubai will see participants walk or cycle while enjoying a wellness village offering health screenings, fitness demos, live entertainment, a children's zone, and food stalls.
Then on November 30, the Garmin Fitness Festival at Meydan Racecourse will feature a range of races for all ages, from 100 meters to 10 kilometres and finally, on December 14, the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon will return for its sixth edition, attracting thousands of runners.