50 Emirati runners to carry Zayed’s message of giving to Beijing Great Wall Marathon
Huairou event will combine athletics with humanitarian support for the local community
HUAIROU, Beijing – Fifty Emirati runners will join 15,000 participants at the 2026 Zayed Charity Run and Huairou Great Wall Marathon in Beijing, as the UAE initiative returns to China for a second consecutive year with sport and humanitarian action at its centre.
The event is scheduled to take place on 27 September in Huairou District, bringing together runners from China, the UAE and other parts of the world. The return follows the success of last year’s edition and marks another step in the Zayed Charity Run’s international expansion and its mission of promoting giving and service to communities.
Preparations for the event have been completed by the Organising Committee of the Zayed Charity Run in partnership with the Government of Huairou District of the People’s Republic of China. The programme is being organised in cooperation with the People’s Government of Huairou District of Beijing Municipality, the Beijing Athletics Association and the District Sports Bureau.
The event is also supported by the Embassy of the UAE in Beijing, with sponsorship from UAE companies including ADNOC, L'IMAD, Mubadala and EDGE.
Race programme
The programme will feature a 42-kilometre full marathon and a 21-kilometre half marathon. The race has been classified as an A1-level event by the Chinese Athletics Association, placing it within the recognised top tier of road-running events in China.
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Zayed Charity Run, said the event’s return to Beijing reflected the success of the previous edition and the growing partnership between the UAE and Chinese organisers.
“We return to Beijing with preparations complete for a new edition, welcoming 15,000 participants, including 50 Emirati runners, in a scene that embodies the power of sport to unite people around a purpose that transcends competition,” Al Kaabi said.
He said the initiative was building on the previous year’s success while continuing to carry the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his values of extending a helping hand and serving humanity.
“Giving remains at the heart of the Run’s mission in every edition,” he said.
Al Kaabi also highlighted the cooperation between the Zayed Charity Run, Chinese partners and organising authorities, as well as the continued support of the UAE Embassy in Beijing.
Hospital support
The 2026 edition will place a significant focus on its humanitarian component, with 50 percent of the run’s proceeds allocated to support Huairou Hospital.
The organisers said the allocation was intended to provide direct support to the local community, reinforcing the event’s charitable purpose alongside its sporting programme.
The initiative was founded on the principle of using sport as a means of promoting giving and humanitarian service. Its Beijing edition will bring together the UAE delegation with thousands of runners from China and other countries, with participants completing their races against the backdrop of the Great Wall.
The organisers said the event’s international partnerships and community-focused approach would continue to carry the values associated with the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, with charitable support forming a central part of the run as it expands its presence beyond the UAE.