Dubai hosted its 25th annual marathon on Friday, drawing a record 20,000 participants and showcasing elite competition. Ethiopian runners dominated the event, with Nebret Melak and enshenalo Desi claiming victory in the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively. The race,supported by the Dubai Sports Council,saw extraordinary times and a renewed focus on attracting top international talent to the annual event.
Ethiopian runner Nebret Melak claimed victory in the 25th anniversary edition of the Dubai Marathon on Friday, taking the top spot in the men’s division.
Melak completed the 42.195-kilometer race in a time of 2:04:00, equaling the second-fastest time in event history, matching compatriot Muzinet Girmay’s mark from 2018. The record remains with fellow Ethiopian Getaneh Molla, who finished in 2:03:34 in 2019.
In the women’s race, Ethiopian Enshenalo Desi continued her impressive form, winning the title with a time of 2:18:31 – the fourth-fastest time ever recorded at the Dubai Marathon for women.
Yasin Haji of Ethiopia finished second in the men’s division with a time of 2:05:52, followed by Rwandan John Hakizimana in third at 2:06:04. Ethiopians Moliyie Dekibo and Fante Werku secured second and third place respectively in the women’s race, clocking in at 2:18:42 and 2:19:08.
Following the competition, Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, presented the winners with their prizes. The top three finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories received $80,000 for first place, $40,000 for second, and $20,000 for third.
The 25th edition of the Dubai Marathon, supported by the Dubai Sports Council, saw a total of 20,000 runners participate across various races, including the 10-kilometer and 4-kilometer events. A record 4,000 runners took part in the full marathon.
Ahmed Al Kamali, the Event Coordinator for the 2026 Dubai Marathon, stated that the results of the 25th edition were positive and satisfying across all fronts. He noted that the marathon time of 2:04:00 is the second-fastest in the event’s history, despite expectations of a quicker pace, reflecting the high technical level of the race.
“Participation in the various races was remarkable, with approximately 9,000 runners in the 10-kilometer race – a good number – and around 4,000 elite runners in the full marathon,” Al Kamali said in a press statement. “These figures demonstrate the strong interest and successful organization of the event.”
He added that the top 10 runners in the marathon all finished in under two hours and eight minutes, a clear indicator of the strong competition and high technical standard.
Al Kamali concluded by saying that the 2026 edition has revitalized the Dubai Marathon, particularly in terms of timing. He confirmed that the organizing committee will explore increasing the prize money in the future to attract a wider range of world-class runners and achieve even faster times in upcoming editions.
Al Nuaimi Second in 10-Kilometer Race
Bulgarian Miroslav Spasov topped the men’s division in the 10-kilometer race with a time of 31:40. Emirati Saeed Al Nuaimi finished second with a time of 31:50, while Briton Elliot Blair took third in 31:58.
In the women’s race, Croatian Shai Faber won first place in a time of 36:46, followed by Frenchwoman Chloe Hamard at 37:06, and Jordanian Hiba Hamoud Amin at 37:15.
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