- Entries Now Open for Three Race Distances on January 7 -
Dubai (UAE): Following an agreement with the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Marathon will return for its 23rd staging on Sunday, January 7, 2024.
The Middle’s East’s first and oldest international marathon will again see races held over 4km, 10km and the classic 42.195km marathon distance with runner registration now open through the official website (dubaimarathon.org).
The announcement comes just a few weeks after the Dubai Marathon returned to the UAE sporting calendar for the first time since January 2020.
“Coming back after a two-year absence was a major challenge and we thank all our runners for their patience and support,” said race director Peter Connerton. “We are now looking forward to working together with the relevant government organisations to stage an event that once again brings elite and amateur runners alike into the heart of the city.”
The 2024 Dubai Marathon will once again be staged under the aegis of the Dubai Sports Council and organisers will also work throughout the year with Dubai Police, Dubai RTA and Dubai Municipality to formalise new routes for all three races.
“The Dubai Marathon is one of the largest annual events in Dubai and is eagerly awaited by runners of all ages and abilities with participants from both in and outside the UAE,” said Dubai Sports Council Secretary General His Excellency Saeed Hareb.
“We will continue to work closely with the organisers to stage another memorable event and we are currently in the planning stage for next year.”
In February, the Dubai Marathon finally returned for the first time since 2020 and for event sponsor adidas it was a memorable start to the marathon year as adidas elite athletes Abdisa Tola and his sister-in-law Dera Dida from Ethiopia took the men and women’s marathon titles respectively.
Tola - brother of marathon world champion and 2017 Dubai Marathon winner Tamirat Tola – set a time of 2:05:42 on what was his marathon debut, while Dida carved a new personal best of 2: 21:11.
For 22-year-old Tola, it was a superb start to his marathon career and a winning time just six seconds outside that set by older brother Tamirat when winning the marathon at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in the USA last July.
“The elites again showed their comfort at running on Dubai’s fast and flat roads and we were delighted with the results,” added Connerton. “Our congratulations go to both runners, and we look forward to seeing them competing again in future editions of the Dubai Marathon.”
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Photo caption: The Dubai Marathon will return for a 23rd staging on Sunday, January 7, 2024. Entries are now open at dubaimarathon.org