GRIT+TONIC.com Triathlon: Mamzar
Dubai (Al Mamzar), United Arab Emirates · October and March · Independent (Super Sports UAE)
Why people love it
- Calm, lifeguarded bay swim, with a super sprint for new triathletes.
- Bike on closed double-lane roads in both directions.
- Race-morning packet pickup from 04:30 and parking near transition in 2021.
- Run inside the beach park, flat and close to the sea.
- Dubai airport is 6 km (3.7 mi) away.
Watch out for
- October races can top 30 °C (86 °F) and feel humid; March is milder.
- Wetsuits are not allowed, and October sea is about 30 °C (86 °F).
- Sprint bike was 24 km (14.9 mi) in earlier editions and 20 km (12.4 mi) now.
- No bag drop. Few athletes have written about the race.
- An early start means a pre-dawn arrival.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
Participants rate it 8.6 out of 10 on one listing, but no written athlete reviews were found. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
Held yearly since 2018 with timing and live results. No complaints turned up, but no detailed reports either. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.7
The same calm bay and closed roads, but 1.5 km (0.93 mi) swimming and 40 km (24.9 mi) in October heat need prep. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.8
Flat closed roads over 40 km (24.9 mi); heat in October is the drag. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalSeldom1.6
Wetsuits were not allowed in 2021 and the water runs 22 to 30 °C (72 to 86 °F). · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.0
Around 22 to 24 °C (72 to 75 °F) in March, but near 30 °C (86 °F) in October. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.2
Sheltered, lagoon-like bay described as calm by the organiser. No athlete has described conditions. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
Sheltered bay and a simple course. No athlete has described sighting. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.6
Clear water and beach seen in venue photos. No race reports on the swim itself. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood4.2
Lifeguards on duty, wave starts, plus super sprint and junior races for new swimmers. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood4.0
Dubai city roads. Nobody has described the surface. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.4
Roads closed to traffic in both directions, per the organiser listing and a 2021 event page. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.0
Urban roads near the airport and creek. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
Coastal breeze is possible. Wind is not documented. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.1
Flat double-lane roads closed to traffic. No athlete times or comments. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessPancake flat4.6
Flat coastal roads over 40 km (24.9 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.7
Not documented; two-way double-lane city roads are probably simple. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.1
A local community race. Little is known about spectators beyond the finish. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
Two run water stations in 2021, plus finish refreshments. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.5
Run inside the beach park beside the sea. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.2
An early start helps, but heat and limited shade make the run harder. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.7
Flat park path over 10 km (6.2 mi). · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.1
October is 28 to 34 °C (82 to 93 °F) and humid. March is milder, 22 to 28 °C (72 to 82 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVery predictable4.5
Dry climate; rain is very rare. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant3.4
Beach park with Gulf and Dubai skyline views, judged from photos. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
Beach park venue, with the bike course out of sight. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.2
Dubai has plenty of hotels. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
Prices vary; October shoulder-season rates are cheaper than winter. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.4
Parking bays near transition, so park once. Hotels are not walkable. · Low confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.7
Dubai International is 6 km (3.7 mi) away. · High confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
One venue with race-morning pickup from 04:30 and parking near transition in 2021. No bag drop. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.2
Dubai has plenty of dining, but the venue itself is a park. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Dubai (Al Mamzar), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Typical month
- October and March
- Latest or next date
- 25 October 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Super Sports UAE)
- Entry fee
- About $90
- Distances
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Finish 10:30 clock time (2021)
- Swim venue
- Al Mamzar Beach Park bay (sea)
- Water temperature
- 22–31 °C (72–88 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Banned
- Swim start
- wave
- Run shade
- limited
- Air temperature
- 22–34 °C (72–93 °F)
- Humidity
- high in October
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Dubai International (DXB), 6 km (4 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Deira, Al Mamzar
- Booking
- Plentiful Dubai hotels. 2021: pickup evening before at a Meydan restaurant, and from 04:30 on race morning. Parking bays near transition.
What racers and reviewers say
- running.lifeRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Participant average of 8.6 out of 10 (a search summary showed 8.8 from 708 ratings; no review text on the page). Page describes a lifeguarded bay swim, closed double-lane roads and a run through the park beside the beach, with easy parking and a race village.
- running.lifeRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Listing for 25 Oct 2026 shows the same 8.6 out of 10 average, medal, timing, live results and downloadable course maps. No results posted yet.
- HopasportsRaced 2021 · aggregator · Positive
Event page for the April 2021 Mamzar race: calm lagoon, closed roads, rated Easy, two run water stations, no wetsuits, no bag drop, packet pickup the evening before or from 4:30 am. Entry suited beginners to advanced.
- Curly TalesRaced 2018 · article · Positive
Preview of the 19 Oct 2018 Super Sports Mamzar race with junior, super sprint, sprint and Olympic categories, 7 to 11 am window.
- Saudi Triathlon FederationRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Team report from 19 Oct 2024 Mamzar race, which offered super sprint, sprint and Olympic. Confirms the event runs yearly in Oct; no course commentary.
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Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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