Dubai Marathon
Dubai, United Arab Emirates · January · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Flat coastal route; 11 men ran under 2:07 in 2020.
- Passes Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
- Early 5:45 and 6:30 starts beat the worst of the heat.
- Open entry with a 6 hour cutoff.
Watch out for
- Warmed from 15 °C (59 °F) to 26 °C (79 °F) in 2026.
- The route has changed often; one reviewer found long highway stretches with almost no spectators.
- No race-day bib pickup, and no expo reported in 2023 or 2026.
- The final 1 km (0.6 mi) is shared with 4 km (2.5 mi) walkers.
- Few athletes have written about this race, so evidence is thin.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLiked3.0
RaceRaves averages 3.2 of 5 from 10 ratings; MarathonGuide gave 1.4 from two. Runners like the fast course, not the scenery or support. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationAdequate2.8
Production scored well in 2018 and 2020, but 2023, 2024 and 2026 reviewers report no expo, an unclear start, thin aid and a crowded finish. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.5
Flat with a 6 hour cutoff and open entry, offset by thin course support in some years. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAmong the fastest4.5
Flat, with 11 men under 2:07 in 2020. The early start warms from 15 to 26 °C (59 to 79 °F) for slower runners. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant2.7
RaceRaves scenery is 2.7 of 5. Burj Al Arab views, but long stretches of unremarkable corniche or highway. · Medium confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.5
Wide highway, but out-and-back turns and 4 km (2.5 mi) walkers sharing the final kilometre slow marathoners. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.4
Smooth urban highway and beach road. No reviewer mentions surface problems. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.8
Extensive closures are planned, but a 2024 reviewer said roads reopened to traffic about 3 hours in. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.9
Every source calls the course flat. No elevation figure is published. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Out-and-back and flat, so no net drop. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.1
Starts are 5:45 (elite) and 6:30, roads are closed and there is no race-day bib pickup. One 2024 reviewer saw no clear start call. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.5
Timed event with elite pacing. Pace group depth is not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse2.2
One reviewer saw almost no spectators for about 30 km (19 mi) in 2023. Others in 2020 and 2024 praised volunteers and some spectators. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.0
Food and water were plentiful in 2020. Reviewers in 2023 and 2026 report few electrolyte drinks, small water bottles and no food. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.6
A sea breeze of about 16 km (9.9 mi)/h (10 mph) in 2020; mostly coastal. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.6
15 °C (59 °F) at the start rising to 26 °C (79 °F) at the finish in 2026. A 2024 runner reported cooler. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable4.1
Late January and February are dry and predictable in Dubai. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.4
Out-and-back on closed highways; reviewers describe few spectators. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Dubai's coast is near sea level, about 5 m (16 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityPlentiful4.6
Dubai has a very large hotel supply. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
January is peak season and rates are high, but supply is large. Little price evidence. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
Roads are wide and the city sprawls, and the organiser advises public transport. · Low confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.8
Dubai is a global hub with a metro. · High confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.1
Bib collection ran over four days with no race-day pickup, and two reviewers reported no expo. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.9
Plenty to do and eat, though the city is less walkable than most destinations. · Medium confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inEasy4.2
Open entry, about 4,000 marathoners in 2026. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.1
Medal was handed out about 1 km (0.6 mi) past the finish in 2023, and RaceRaves swag ratings are low. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Typical month
- January
- Latest or next date
- 17 January 2027
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 4,000 athletes
- First held
- 1998
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- out-and-back
- Start time
- 06:30
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Surface
- Asphalt on highway and Jumeirah Beach Road
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
- Humidity
- About 67% (race day forecast)
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Dubai International (DXB), 25 km (16 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Al Sufouh, Jumeirah, Dubai Marina
- Booking
- Peak season January or February; book early.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
Ten reviews, 3.2 overall. Runners agree it is flat and fast but scenery is weak (2.7 of 5). Production reviews run 5 out of 5 in 2018 and 2020 down to 1 in 2026; recent runners cite no expo, thin aid and a crowded last kilometre with 4 km (2.5 mi) walkers.
- MarathonGuide (Robert N.)Raced 2023 · aggregator · Negative
Gave 1 star. Said the route had moved away from spectator-lined Jumeirah Beach to an empty highway with long grades and no spectators until the finish, and that aid was thin.
“Hardly any electrolyte drinks offered, small bottles of water”
- MarathonGuide (jr s.)Raced 2024 · aggregator · Negative
Titled very poor organisation. Reported no clear start announcement, roads opened to traffic about 3 hours in forcing a course change, and crowded footpaths.
- Stryd analysisRaced 2020 · blog · Positive
2020 data analysis: flat coastal out-and-back, 20 °C (68 °F), 73% humidity, force 3 sea breeze (16 km/h (9.9 mph), 10 mph); 11 athletes broke 2:07, a race record, helped by packs and shoes.
- Gulf NewsRaced 2019 · article · Positive
Organiser quoted calling the route fast and flat with few bends; route changes are frequent. Organiser source, treat as promotional.
Show 1 more
- Athletics WeeklyRaced 2026 · article · neutral
2026 guide: Gold Label, 5:45 elite start and 6:30 mass start, route along Al Sufouh Road and Jumeirah Beach Road.
Raced Dubai Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Dubai Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.