- Runners Set for Return to Familiar Course –
Dubai (UAE): The Dubai Marathon will return to its traditional “home” in the
heart of the city when the 23 rd staging of the iconic sporting event is held on
Sunday, January 7, 2024.
Sanctioned by the Dubai Sports Council, the 2024 Dubai Marathon will start and
finish on Umm Suqeim Road with three races – the 4km fun run, the 10km road race
and the classic 42.195km marathon distance – following discussions between event
organisers, the Dubai Sports Council, Dubai Police and the Dubai RTA.
“The Dubai Marathon is well established as one of the largest annual sporting events
on the calendar and is a firm favourite with runners of all ages and abilities, so it is
important the city gets fully behind it,” said Dubai Sports Council Secretary General
His Excellency Saeed Hareb.
“With our governmental colleagues, we will continue to work closely with the
organisers to stage another memorable event that brings international running into
the heart of the city.”
Runners registering for the 2024 edition of the first and oldest international marathon
in the Middle East will start and finish on the Umm Suqeim Road close to the Dubai
Police Academy with the 42.195km distance taking in Jumeirah Beach Road and
passing in the shadows of the iconic Burj Al Arab and Madinat properties.
“We are very grateful to the Dubai Sports Council, as well as the Dubai Police, Dubai
RTA and Dubai Municipality, for working with us to facilitate the staging of the 2024
Dubai Marathon,” said Event Director Peter Connerton.
“While it’s an established route that has proved to be popular with locally based
runners as well as the growing number of international marathon tourists from
outside the region, we know that staging a city marathon is a major challenge for the
governmental departments, particularly with Dubai now being home to some 3.6
million people.
“We simply could not operate on the streets of the emirate without the help of our city
partners, and we thank the Dubai Sports Council for their invaluable co-ordination
and ongoing support.”
The 2024 Dubai Marathon will be seen by top athletes, rising stars and debutants as
the perfect opportunity to record an Olympic qualifying time just over six months prior
to the staging of the Summer Olympics in Paris.
The course is known as being particularly benign for both elite and regular runners
so quick times are expected, particularly in early January when Dubai’s temperatures
are conducive to distance running. Men and women have until April 30, 2024, to
qualify for their countries and achieve the standard set by the Olympic Committee
and by their national federation to compete in the marathon at the 2024 Summer
Olympics in Paris.
“International athletes are well aware that Dubai is a race that can put them in the
global spotlight and open doors to a successful career in long distance running,”
added Connerton.
Those looking to compete in any of the three race categories – 4km, 10km and the
marathon – can register online now through the official website dubaimarathon.org.
