2024 Dubai Marathon route confirmed

The Dubai Marathon will return to its traditional home in the heart of the city when the 23rd staging of the event is held on Sunday, January 7, 2024.

Sanctioned by the Dubai Sports Council, the 2024 edition 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 Roads and Transport Authority.

"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's Secretary General Saeed Hareb.

Runners 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.

The Dubai Marathon will return to familiar ground when the 23rd edition is staged on January 7, 2024 #Dubai #dubaimarathon #running #adidas @DXBMediaOffice @DubaiSC @rta_dubai @visitdubai @DubaiPoliceHQ https://t.co/VDWuSeYJII

— Dubai Marathon (@dubai_marathon) August 23, 2023

Those looking to compete in any of the three race categories – 4km, 10km and the marathon - can register online now through the official website.

"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," he added.

The 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.