As well as a super-fast fast marathon course, Dubai hosts a number of other attractions, from amazing beaches to award-winning restaurants.
The Dubai Marathon has witnessed some truly world-class times down the years. The course records are 2:03:34 by Geteneh Molla and 2:16:07 by Tigist Ketema, whereas earlier this year the races were won by Bute Gemechu with 2:04:51 and Bedatu Hirpa in 2:18:27 as Eilish McColgan made an appearance in the 10km.
So if you’re in search of a personal best then the next edition on February 1 in 2026 might be perfect for you.
Apart from hosting one of the world’s quickest races over 26.2 miles, Dubai also has amazing beaches, restaurants and sites to see for visitors.
Its linear layout makes it easy to navigate, with the airport just minutes from key areas such as Dubai Creek, Downtown and the Marina.
You can enjoy white sands of Kite Beach and the splendour of Dubai’s heritage quarter – and with amazing waterslides and theme parks, there is everything you need to relax either before or after the marathon.
The Gold Label race started in 1998 and it really placed itself firmly on the world marathon map in 2008 when Haile Gebrselassie won in 2:04:53 before coming back to successfully defend his title in 2009 and 2010.
Then, in 2012, Ayele Abshero won on his debut marathon in 2:04:23 and led four men inside 2:05 – an unprecedented feat at the time and long before super-shoes became widespread.
Former winners also include Tamirat Tola, who won in 2017 in 2:04:11 before going on to win the world marathon title in 2022 and the Olympic crown in Paris in 2024.
What’s more, Dubai was the first marathon in history to see five men break 2:05 in the same race; the first to see seven men run sub-2:05 in the same race; and the first to have three women inside 2:20 in the same race.
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