Dubai Mallathon draws more than 100,000 participants and records 220 million steps in two months
New venues bring more families, residents and visitors into the summer programme
DUBAI – More than 100,000 people have participated in the second edition of Dubai Mallathon, recording more than 220 million steps during the first two months of the community sports initiative.
Launched by 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, the initiative has continued to attract participants from across the emirate. Families, senior citizens, People of Determination, residents, visitors, government entities, private companies and community organisations have joined the programme.
The growing participation has also led to an expansion in the number of locations hosting Dubai Mallathon. The initiative is designed to provide people with accessible spaces for walking and running during the summer, using fully air-conditioned facilities at major shopping destinations across Dubai. New venues have joined the programme in August, extending its reach to additional communities and creating more opportunities for people to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines.
Gate Avenue at DIFC became part of the initiative on August 1 and will continue to host participants until the programme ends on September 15. Ibn Battuta Mall joined on August 17, further widening the network of participating locations. Dubai International Airport is also taking part throughout August, with four key events scheduled on Fridays as part of the programme.
Growing participation
The second edition has brought together people from a broad range of backgrounds, reflecting the initiative's focus on making physical activity accessible to different sections of the community. The programme has particularly used shopping malls as indoor venues where participants can walk or run in comfortable conditions during the summer months.
تواصل فعاليات الدورة الثانية من مبادرة "دبي مولاثون" الرياضية المجتمعية، خلال شهرين من إطلاقها، تحقيق إقبال واسع بإجمالي عدد مشاركين تجاوز الـ 100 ألف مشارك، حققوا معاً أكثر من 220 مليون خطوة. وأعلنت المبادرة عن توسيع نطاقها لتشمل مواقع جديدة، حيث يشارك مركز دبي المالي العالمي-… pic.twitter.com/cfJcc8IDGA
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 22, 2026
Dr Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, recently joined participants at Dubai Mall. During his visit, he was briefed on the activities taking place and participated in a running session.
Dr Al Neyadi said the wide involvement of government organisations, private sector companies, young people and families reflected increasing awareness of the importance of physical activity and its role in supporting quality of life.
He said initiatives such as Dubai Mallathon help strengthen community partnerships, encourage healthy habits and provide young people with a supportive setting to use their energy positively. He also highlighted the role of such programmes in developing character and encouraging participation and responsibility among younger members of society.
Dr Al Neyadi encouraged members of the community to participate in Dubai Mallathon and benefit from its sporting and social activities. He said the longer-term value of such initiatives comes from encouraging practices that can become part of people's everyday routines and contribute to a healthier and more active society.
The programme's organisers have continued to emphasise participation across age groups rather than limiting activities to experienced runners or athletes. The availability of indoor routes allows residents and visitors to take part without being exposed to the intense outdoor summer conditions.
Indoor fitness
Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, said continued leadership support for community initiatives was helping promote public health and strengthen a culture of physical activity throughout Dubai.
He said the second edition of Dubai Mallathon was building on this approach by turning shopping malls into accessible, air-conditioned locations for daily exercise. The format enables people of different ages to walk or run in an environment designed to provide greater comfort during the summer.
According to Hareb, the participation figures, with more than 100,000 people taking part and more than 220 million steps recorded, demonstrate the reach of the initiative and its ability to bring recreation, health and physical activity together.
He said the Dubai Sports Council remained committed to supporting community initiatives that encourage people from different backgrounds and age groups to participate in sport. He also stressed the importance of making physical activity a consistent part of everyday life.
The participating malls provide dedicated walking and running tracks, giving participants the opportunity to exercise in controlled indoor surroundings. Activities are being held every day from 6am to 10am, allowing people to take part during the cooler morning hours while remaining inside air-conditioned facilities.
Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, Dubai Festival City Mall, City Centre Deira and Dubai Hills Mall are among the established locations hosting the programme. Gate Avenue at DIFC and Ibn Battuta Mall have expanded the network further.
The addition of DXB has introduced a different setting for the initiative. Dubai International Airport is hosting four events on Fridays during August, with indoor airport facilities being used as walking routes.
Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Airports, said DXB provided a suitable environment for indoor walking because movement is already an integral part of the airport experience.
During August, Dubai Airports has incorporated walking routes into indoor airport facilities as part of the programme. The initiative is also aimed at providing employees and members of the oneDXB community with additional opportunities to participate in physical activity within one of Dubai's busiest transport hubs.
Al Joker said the airport's involvement was aligned with Dubai's wider objective of developing healthier and more connected communities, as well as the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033.
Weekend activities
Beyond the daily walking and running sessions, the second edition includes sporting competitions held at weekends across participating shopping malls. The competitions feature prizes and are intended to maintain engagement among participants throughout the programme.
The wider schedule gives participants opportunities to take part in activities beyond regular walking and running. By distributing events across several destinations, organisers are able to bring the initiative closer to different communities across the emirate.
Participation in Dubai Mallathon is free, and people do not need to register in advance. Those wishing to participate can visit any of the participating shopping malls and collect a participant wristband.
The wristband also provides access to exclusive benefits and offers available at selected shops, cafés and restaurants. These offers form part of the programme's wider participant experience and provide additional incentives for people taking part in the activities.
The initiative's structure also enables families to participate together. With dedicated indoor routes available during the summer, the programme provides a setting where parents, children, older residents and other members of the community can take part in physical activity at the same destination.
Programme continues
Dubai Mallathon will continue until September 15, 2026. Daily activities are scheduled from 6am to 10am at the participating locations, with the programme continuing to use air-conditioned shopping destinations as its primary venues.
The initiative supports the objectives of Dubai Social Agenda 33 and the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033. It also aligns with the goals of the Year of Family 2026 by creating opportunities for families to participate in physical activity together in a safe and comfortable setting.
Organisers say the programme is intended to reinforce family cohesion, encourage regular exercise and contribute to quality of life across the community. Its expanding network of locations has also made participation more accessible to people living in different parts of Dubai.
The current edition follows the first Dubai Mallathon, which achieved international recognition after 1,392 people participated in a mall running event at Dubai Hills Mall. The event secured a Guinness World Record for the Most Runners in a Mall Run Event.
The second edition has significantly expanded participation beyond that earlier milestone, with more than 100,000 people now involved and more than 220 million steps recorded during its first two months.