Lace up your trainers and head to the United Arab Emirates

The Center East nation phases the extremely advisable Dubai Marathon and Rak Half-Marathon early within the new yr

Planning your street racing calendar for 2026? In that case, why not goal one of many nice occasions within the United Arab Emirates?

The Dubai Marathon takes place on February 1. Or how concerning the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon two weeks afterward February 14?

The realm has sensible climate, nice folks and tradition, reasonably priced purchasing and a world-class infrastructure, plus a variety of occasions and actions that make the UAE one of many world’s finest preferrred vacationer locations.

The UAE has additionally put itself on the operating map in recent times.

The Dubai Marathon is a quick course and in addition an attention-grabbing place if you wish to mix your operating with sight-seeing. Dubai’s linear format makes it simple to navigate, with the airport minutes from key areas comparable to Dubai Creek, Downtown and the Marina.

You’ll be able to take pleasure in award-winning eating places, sensible seashores such because the white sands of Kite Seaside and the splendour of Dubai’s heritage quarter – and with wonderful waterslides and theme parks, there may be the whole lot that you must calm down both earlier than or after the marathon.

The 2026 occasion can be the twenty fifth anniversary of the race and its course information of two:03:34 by Geteneh Molla and a couple of:16:07 by Tigist Ketema, illustrate why it is among the world’s quickest marathons.

The 2025 Dubai Marathon winners had been Bute Gemechu of Ethiopia in 2:04:51 and Bedatu Hirpa of Ethiopia in 2:18:27.

For extra concerning the Dubai Marathon, see right here.

The RAK Half, in the meantime, options 4 totally different race distances out there on Al Marjan Island within the UAE with the selection of tackling 2km, 5km, 10km or the half-marathon.

Not solely does Ras Al Khaimah stage among the best half-marathon races on the earth, however it is among the most ‘must-see’ cities with sensible climate, excellent infrastructure, golden seashores and world class eating and purchasing.

With a rare historical past courting again over seven millennia, the northernmost Emirate within the UAE has turn out to be one of the crucial wanted locations within the Center East.

For these travelling to the emirate, keep in mind there isn’t a exhausting border crossing from Ras Al Khaimah and its neighbouring emirates, together with Dubai. So you possibly can journey freely between Ras Al Khaimah and the opposite bordering emirates with none restrictions.

With the 2026 race being on February 14, you possibly can even mix it with a Valentine’s Day get-away.

On the race itself, the course has seen a number of world information over time. In 2007 Sammy Wanjiru ran a males’s world file of 58:53 within the RAK Half. Since then there have additionally been three ladies’s world information with Mary Keitany clocking 65:50 in 2011, Peres Jepchirchir operating 64:52 in 2017 and Abal Yeshaneh with 64:31 in 2020.

Extra just lately, in 2022, Jacob Kiplimo and Girmawit Gebrzihair ran course information of 57:56 and 64:14 respectively, whereas Eilish McColgan (beneath) clocked a British file of 66:26.

In 2025 Alex Matata of Kenya received the RAK Half in 59:20 with Ejgayehu Taye of Ethiopia (pictured above) profitable the ladies’s race in 65:52.

Discover out extra concerning the RAK Half and enter right here.