• Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, at the start of Dubai Run. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, at the start of Dubai Run. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National
  • Sheikh Hamdan at the start of Dubai Run near Museum of the Future
    Sheikh Hamdan at the start of Dubai Run near Museum of the Future
  • Sheikh Hamdan and participants begin Dubai Run
    Sheikh Hamdan and participants begin Dubai Run
  • UAE astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi at Dubai Run
    UAE astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi at Dubai Run
  • The annual run begins at 6.30am but some people arrive as early as 3.30am
    The annual run begins at 6.30am but some people arrive as early as 3.30am
  • All 14 lanes of Sheikh Zayed Road remain closed for a few hours in the early morning
    All 14 lanes of Sheikh Zayed Road remain closed for a few hours in the early morning
  • Runners of all ages and skill level can participate
    Runners of all ages and skill level can participate
  • The starting line for the 5km and 10km route is near Museum of the Future
    The starting line for the 5km and 10km route is near Museum of the Future
  • This year's run included a curated playlist by local DJs as part of Untold Dubai
    This year's run included a curated playlist by local DJs as part of Untold Dubai
  • Participants can run, walk or jog
    Participants can run, walk or jog
  • Participants at Dubai Run
    Participants at Dubai Run
  • 193,000 people took part in last year's Dubai Run
    193,000 people took part in last year's Dubai Run
  • Dubai Run is one of two of the flagship events of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, which was launched in 2017
    Dubai Run is one of two of the flagship events of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, which was launched in 2017
  • Dubai Run in Sheikh Zayed Road. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Dubai Run in Sheikh Zayed Road. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • Friends pose together on an empty Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai
    Friends pose together on an empty Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai
  • The 5km run ends at Dubai Mall
    The 5km run ends at Dubai Mall
  • The run concludes this year's Dubai Fitness Challenge
    The run concludes this year's Dubai Fitness Challenge

Dubai's biggest road closes as Sheikh Hamdan leads thousands in fun run


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai Run has once again taken over Sheikh Zayed Road as 226,000 participants took part on Sunday morning, making it the biggest one yet.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced the final number on his Instagram, thanking all those who turned out for it. He finished by writing: "Stay active! Keep running Dubai. #Dubai30x30".

Closing out the Dubai Fitness Challenge, the run – now in its fifth year – is one of the biggest of its kind in the world as the 14-lane Sheikh Zayed Road closes to traffic for a few hours in the early morning with participants having the option of choosing the 5km or 10km route.

Sheikh Hamdan was at the front of the line as the race began. UAE astronauts Sultan Al Neyadi and Hazza Al Mansouri were also in attendance.

The 5km route began near the Museum of the Future, passing through Burj Khalifa and Dubai Opera and ending near Dubai Mall. Meanwhile, the 10km route also began near the Museum of the Future, going along Sheikh Zayed Road to the Dubai Water Canal, returning towards the World Trade Centre before ending on Al Mustaqbal Street near Dubai International Financial Centre.

This year participants were not only able to walk, jog or sprint on a car-free Sheikh Zayed Road, but also do so while grooving along to upbeat tunes curated by local DJs. Played from three stages along the race route, the playlists were put together by Untold Dubai.

Dubai Run and Dubai Ride are two of the flagship events of the Dubai Fitness Challenge which was launched in 2017 by Sheikh Hamdan. The month-long event aims to transform the emirate into one of the world's most active cities by encouraging everyone to commit to doing physical activity for 30 minutes a day for 30 days.

If you go

The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road. 

The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
 

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

ICC Awards for 2021

MEN

Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)

WOMEN

Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)

Updated: November 26, 2023, 8:30 AM