Dubai International joins Dubai Mallathon with first airport walking experience
Fitness campaign expands beyond shopping centres for the first time
DUBAI – Dubai International (DXB) has become the first airport to host the Dubai Mallathon, bringing the citywide wellbeing initiative into an aviation environment for the first time.
The programme was launched at the airport in line with the vision of 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. By transforming parts of the airport into an indoor walking track, Dubai Airports is extending the initiative beyond shopping centres while encouraging healthier lifestyles for employees, partners and visitors.
The inaugural session was held at Terminal 3 Departures, where Dubai Airports employees, members of the wider oneDXB community and People of Determination took part in two morning indoor walks. The programme forms part of DXB's broader efforts to promote employee wellbeing, strengthen community engagement and redefine how airport spaces can be used beyond travel.
First walks
Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Airports, said the organisation was proud to host the second edition of Dubai Mallathon at DXB, describing it as a community-driven initiative that encourages people to integrate physical activity into their daily routines.
He said the initiative is about more than exercise, allowing participants to stay active regardless of their work shifts or locations while reinforcing the message that small daily steps can make a meaningful difference. Al Joker added that airports are naturally places of movement, making DXB an ideal setting for indoor walking while giving employees and the wider oneDXB community another opportunity to connect and support Dubai's wider wellbeing ambitions.
Dubai Mallathon arrives at DXB
Welcoming Dubai Airports' participation, Demaithan Al Qamzi, General Coordinator of Dubai Mallathon, said the inclusion of Dubai International significantly expands the initiative by reaching airport employees, the wider airport community and travellers.
He said the programme has evolved beyond a traditional sporting event into a broader community movement that integrates physical activity into workplaces and everyday routines. According to Al Qamzi, the expansion reflects the leadership's vision of strengthening Dubai's position as the world's best city to live and work.
Dubai Airports said hosting the initiative also demonstrates its commitment to making physical activity more accessible within one of the city's busiest public spaces. The programme supports the wider objectives of the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033 by encouraging healthier and more connected communities.
More sessions
Additional Dubai Mallathon sessions will be held every Friday throughout August at key locations across Terminal 3. The walks are expected to bring together hundreds of Dubai Airports employees, oneDXB community partners and members of the public.
The final session, scheduled for 28 August, will mark Emirati Women's Day. Dubai Airports will invite members of the oneDXB community to participate in the walk while celebrating the achievements and contributions of Emirati women across the organisation and the wider aviation sector.
Dubai Mallathon is a citywide fitness initiative that transforms air-conditioned shopping malls into walking and running tracks during the summer, making exercise more accessible for people of all ages and abilities. The 2025 edition attracted more than 40,000 participants, who collectively recorded over 120 million steps across participating malls. It also secured a Guinness World Records title for the Most Runners in a Mall Run Event.
The 2026 Dubai Mallathon runs across participating venues until 15 September, with Dubai Airports becoming the first non-mall location to host the initiative and extend its reach into one of the world's busiest international airports.