Dubai Mallathon is set for a bigger return next year after His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, directed it to become an annual three-month event. Starting 15 June until 15 September, the initiative will take place across several malls citywide.
The decision follows the strong success of the inaugural edition, which attracted more than 40,000 participants and earned a Guinness World Record at Dubai Hills Mall, where 1,392 runners of all ages and nationalities competed in a single race. Over the month of August, participants collectively logged over 120 million steps across indoor tracks in nine major malls. The finale featured a full 42km marathon, alongside special races such as one dedicated to Emirati Women’s Day.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan praised the event’s impact, highlighting how it reflects Dubai’s vision of sports as a key part of community life, social cohesion, and wellbeing, and also added, "We want every initiative in Dubai to leave a lasting impact that goes beyond the event itself and into people’s daily lives, serving as a starting point for sustainable change and a source of inspiration for the community. Our initiatives should spark a passion for movement, achievement and giving".