"Abu Dhabi Sports" and"ADNOC" They are organizing the eighth edition of the Abu Dhabi Marathon on December 12
ABU DHABI, 30 JULY / WAM / The Abu Dhabi Sports Council announced today, in cooperation with ADNOC, the organization of the eighth edition of the Abu Dhabi Marathon, on the Abu Dhabi Corniche on December 12, 2026, with the participation of an elite group of international runners and thousands of competitors of different nationalities and age groups, in one of the most prominent community and international sporting events on the agenda of sporting events in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Organizing the marathon comes within the framework of the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council aimed at promoting the culture of sports and physical activity, and consolidating Abu Dhabi’s position as a global destination for hosting major sporting events, in addition to supporting healthy lifestyles and encouraging community members to adopt sports as a sustainable lifestyle.
The event includes four races suitable for different categories, including the full marathon of 42,195 km, a 10 km race, a 5 km race, in addition to a 2.5 km race designated for families and children, which enhances the participation of various segments of society in the event.
As part of the preparations for the marathon, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council is organizing two preparatory races aimed at enabling runners to reach the highest levels of readiness before the main event. The first race will be held in the city of Dhanna on October 24, for a main distance of 10 kilometers, while on November 7, Al Ain will host the second preparatory race for the half marathon, a distance of 21.1 kilometres, giving participants an ideal opportunity to test their physical readiness before competing in the official race.
The Abu Dhabi Marathon is expected to attract an elite group of professional and amateur runners from around the world, in addition to broad participation from community members, in light of the distinguished reputation that the event has established during its previous editions in terms of organization, competition, and community turnout.
His Excellency Arif Hamad Al Awani, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, confirmed that the Abu Dhabi Marathon has become one of the most prominent annual sporting events in the region, and embodies the vision of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to enhance the quality of life and establish a culture of sports and physical activity among members of society.
He said that organizing the two preparatory races in Al Dhanna and Al Ain comes within the Council’s strategy to expand the base of sports participation and reach various regions of the emirate, which contributes to raising the readiness of participants and motivating them to achieve the best results in the main marathon.
He added that the event continues to attract an increasing number of participants from inside and outside the country, thanks to Abu Dhabi’s global sports infrastructure and advanced organizational expertise, stressing the keenness to present an exceptional edition that reflects the emirate’s leading position on the global sports map.
Since its launch in 2018, the Abu Dhabi Marathon has recorded continuous growth in the number of participants, attracting more than 10,000 runners in its first edition, before the number rose to more than 16,000 participants in the second edition in 2019.
The third edition was held in 2021 after it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and witnessed the participation of about 12,000 male and female runners amid the application of precautionary measures, while the number of participants exceeded 20,000 in the 2022 edition, and rose to about 25,000 participants in 2023.
The sixth edition in 2024 attracted more than 33,000 participants from more than 150 nationalities, while the seventh edition recorded participation numbers exceeding 37,000 male and female runners, reflecting the growing status of the event among the most prominent road running races in the world.
The Abu Dhabi Marathon Fan Village is scheduled to open its doors to visitors starting December 7, 2026, marking the start of the event week, as it includes a variety of sports, entertainment and awareness activities, in addition to activities dedicated to families, partners and sponsors, in a way that enhances the festive atmosphere accompanying the marathon.
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