UAE-China Zayed Charity Run opens registration for 2025 Great Wall Marathon
Over 15,000 runners to race from Yanqi Lake to the Mutianyu Great Wall
DUBAI: Registration has officially opened for the 2025 Huairou Great Wall Marathon & Zayed Charity Run, a monumental sporting and cultural event uniting the UAE and China.
Scheduled for 21st September 2025, the marathon will take place in Jinyu Xinfa Science Park, attracting over 15,000 participants from around the globe.
This unique race is Beijing’s only marathon named after the iconic Great Wall and is certified Class A1 by the China Athletics Association. The scenic route begins at Yanqi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center, weaving through historical and natural landmarks, and finishes at the Mutianyu Great Wall, offering a spectacular backdrop for one of the most significant sporting events in the region.
Zayed Charity Run
The event forms part of the renowned Zayed Charity Run, launched in 2001 in Abu Dhabi to honour the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. To date, the run has attracted over 613,000 runners and raised more than $173 million for global medical and humanitarian causes. Previous editions have been held in New York, Cairo, and now Beijing.
“Bringing the Zayed Charity Run to the Great Wall is more than a partnership; it’s a powerful union of heritage, values, and purpose,” said Lieutenant General Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Organising Committee.
Huairou Great Wall Marathon
The marathon will be accompanied by a series of inclusive events, such as the Robot, Family & People of Determination Run on 20 September, and the Emirati House cultural activation at the Mutianyu Great Wall from 19 to 21 September.
A Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony will also be held on 21 September at the Great Wall platform.
When and how to register?
Registration for Chinese athletes begins on 8 August via local marathon platforms and WeChat. Special entry opportunities have been extended to UAE-based participants, including athletes, community members, and embassy staff. Further details will be revealed at a press conference on 18 August at Huairou Science City.
The Zayed Charity Run will also continue its tradition in the UAE through the Abu Dhabi Edition at Erth Abu Dhabi, reinforcing the UAE’s message of global unity through purpose-driven sport.