Zayed Charity Run heads to Rio de Janeiro before returning home to Abu Dhabi

From the Great Wall of China to the beaches of Brazil, charity run continues its global journey

Zayed Charity Run has raised more than $172 million since its launch in 2001. Photo: Wam

Zayed Charity Run will return to Abu Dhabi on November 29 for its third stop of the 2025–2026 season.

The event, dubbed “the kindest run in the world”, is already marking milestones this year with three cities added to its route: Beijing, Rio de Janeiro and Budapest.

The season began in September in China, where the run was staged for the first time as part of the Huairou Great Wall Marathon. More than 17,000 runners took part in the four-day event, which included cultural showcases and humanitarian initiatives reflecting the UAE’s values.

Zayed Charity Run in Beijing had a 5km family outing, 10km race, half-marathon, full marathon, a run for people of determination and an innovative race involving robots. Evelyn Lau / The National

The second leg of the event takes place in Brazil, with Rio de Janeiro set to host the charity run on Sunday. Thousands are expected to join the 5km and 10km races, including more than 200 participants from the UAE and 250 delegations from outside Brazil. Proceeds from the run will go towards Rio Solidario, a non-profit organisation that works with local partners to provide opportunities for vulnerable children, women and families.

Organisers say the expansion reflects the legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the commitment to using sport as a platform to promote compassion and community.

“Hosting the run in Rio de Janeiro is an exceptional and important step in reinforcing our global mission, as we continue to share the values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, of giving and human unity. We reaffirm our commitment to the success of this journey, which has become a symbol of solidarity among nations,” says Lt Gen Mohamed Helal Al Kaabi, chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of Zayed Charity Run.

Following Rio, the series will continue to Abu Dhabi before moving to Cairo on December 26, Miami on January 30, 2026 and Budapest in May 2026.

In the capital, runners of all ages and fitness levels can take part in 3km, 5km and 10km distances, with proceeds going towards three pioneering research programmes at Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre. Registration for the Abu Dhabi event will open soon.

Since its launch in 2001, Zayed Charity Run has hosted 39 races, raised more than $172 million, attracted more than 613,000 participants and supported dozens of hospitals, research centres and charitable organisations worldwide.