Dubai Fitness Challenge might be drawing to a close, but the UAE is steadily growing its reputation as a fitness hub, with more events being added to the calendar each year. Alongside long-established home-grown events such as Dubai Run and Abu Dhabi Marathon, more international brands are making their way to the country to host festivals and competitive races.
For fitness enthusiasts and those on well-being journeys, keeping track of the upcoming events is a challenge in itself. Here's a look at the packed calendar from now until February.
November
WeWalk
The charity walkathon which aims to support people affected by diabetes returns to Dubai Science Park. The walk involves a relaxed 3.5km route, with live entertainment, interactive games and educational booths spread across the venue too.
It's organised in partnership with Dubai Charity Association and the Tecom group, and all proceeds will be dedicated to raising awareness about diabetes and endocrinological disorders
November 16; 7am onwards; Dh30; Dubai Science Park; dubai.platinumlist.net
The Music Run
The international fun run in Dubai is being held for the first time, blending music, fitness and entertainment at Meydan Racecourse. Featuring a 5k route lined with speakers pumping out a curated playlist, the event ends with a music festival. The run pack includes a T-shirt, drawstring bag, foam glow stick, temporary tattoo and a run bib.
November 16; from Dh109; Meydan Racecourse, Dubai; themusicrun.ae
Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo
The 154k race starts in downtown Abu Dhabi and goes all the way to Garden City in Al Ain. Participants will be categorised into different speed groups, with the first group comprising elite riders and the others setting off accordingly. Riders can register as individuals or in teams of up to 13.
November 16; 6am onwards; from Dh264; Abu Dhabi to Al Ain; premieronline.com
BMX Competition
Bikers can gear up for a BMX contest at Circuit X in Abu Dhabi. Riders from intermediate to advanced levels can register to showcase their abilities. A halftime stunt show is on the cards for spectators and competitors alike. Winners can win a new BMX bike and protective gear. There are three categories based on age: junior for participants aged eight to 13; senior for those between 14 and 18; and adult for 18 and above.
November 16; 9.30am-1.30pm; from Dh50; Hudayriyat Island; circuitxuae.com
Emirates NBD Unity Run
The run aims to support people of determination. Held at Al Forsan Park, Expo City Dubai, the annual event encourages people of determination to participate with their friends and families in either the 3km fun walk or the timed 5km and 10km routes. A run village is also on site where entertainment and food options are available post-event
November 17; from 6am; from Dh50, free for people of determination; Expo City Dubai; unityrun.ae
Dubai Run
Perhaps the most-anticipated event of Dubai Fitness Challenge, the free citywide run is available as a 5k or 10k route along Sheikh Zayed Road. Runners of all levels are welcome, and Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan often puts in an appearance.
November 24; Sheikh Zayed Road; dubaifitnesschallenge.com
Walk or Cycle for Life
Perfect for a family, the community event at Meydan Cycle Track encourages participants to walk, cycle or both for cancer awareness. A wellness village will have booths offering health screenings, nutrition advice and fitness demonstrations. Live entertainment, a children's zone and food stalls will also be on hand.
November 26; from Dh70; Meydan Cycle Track, Dubai; raceroster.com
Garmin Fitness Festival
Sports wearable brand Garmin is hosting a series of races at Meydan Racecourse. There will be distances ranging from 100 metres to 10k for children, while adults can opt for 5km or 10km. Early morning and late evening races are also planned.
The race village will feature different zones for people to try out products by Garmin, for example, or do mini workouts with participating gyms and more. A picnic area and a party zone are on site, too, plus food and beverage stalls.
November 30; 7am onwards; from Dh50; Meydan Racecourse, Dubai; garminfitnessfestival.com
December
Adnoc Abu Dhabi Marathon, December 14
After attracting 25,000 runners last year, the marathon is back in the capital for the sixth time. The main event aside, shorter-distance races are also available, from a marathon relay for pairs to 2.5km, 5km and 10km courses. The marathon village will have food and beverage options and live entertainment.
December 14; from Dh55; Adnoc Headquarters, Abu Dhabi; adnocabudhabimarathon.com
Fitness events in 2025
January
Dubai Marathon
The full route aside, the 24th Dubai Marathon has 4k and 10k routes available for more casual runners. The day starts and finishes on Umm Suqeim Road opposite Madinat Jumeirah, where there will be post-race entertainment and a range of food and drinks options.
January 12; 6am onwards; Umm Suqeim Road, Dubai; dubaimarathon.org
Kayan Wellness Festival
The three-day event in Abu Dhabi focuses on holistic wellness, inviting participants to embark on a journey of rejuvenation, healing and self-discovery through activities and discussions. Taking place on Fahid Island, the festival will host wellness experts, including therapist Marissa Peer and biohacker Gary Brecka, for talks and workshops. There's mental health at the mind zone; fitness sessions at the body zone; and energy healing and self-reflection at the soul zone.
January 31 to February 2; Fahid Island, Abu Dhabi; kayanwellnessfestival.com
February
TriYas
While details of the free triathlon on Yas Island are yet to be revealed, registration is already open. The day-to-night event has different swim, cycle and run segments to accommodate all ages and fitness levels. More than 13,000 people showed up in last year.
February 8; Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi; yasmarinacircuit.com
Dubai Canal Run
The city run, with views of the Downtown Dubai skyline, has races for the whole family. A 1km race is being held for children, older participants can choose among the 3km, 5km and 10km routes. Music and entertainment are on the cards at the dedicated race village, with food and beverage vendors dishing out post-race refreshments.
February 22; 7am onwards; from Dh52.50; Dubai Canal; premieronline.com
Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge
The annual cycling challenge at Expo City Dubai is back for its 2025 season in February. The event serves as a qualifier for the 2025 UCI Grand Fondon World Series Championship in Australia in October 2025. The challenge features a 94.1km course, with build-up rides organised across four dates in 2024 on the Al Qudra cycle track. A day before the main ride, there's an event for junior riders for children aged two to seven.
There is also an Eat Well Live Well village on site, which will have food and beverage vendors, as well as inflatable attractions for little ones and refreshing ice baths and massage zones for riders.
February 23; from Dh45; Expo City Dubai; cyclechallenge.ae
The%20Boy%20and%20the%20Heron
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EHayao%20Miyazaki%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Soma%20Santoki%2C%20Masaki%20Suda%2C%20Ko%20Shibasaki%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
MATCH INFO
Alaves 1 (Perez 65' pen)
Real Madrid 2 (Ramos 52', Carvajal 69')
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Pathaan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Siddharth%20Anand%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Deepika%20Padukone%2C%20John%20Abraham%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
3%20Body%20Problem
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreators%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Benioff%2C%20D%20B%20Weiss%2C%20Alexander%20Woo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBenedict%20Wong%2C%20Jess%20Hong%2C%20Jovan%20Adepo%2C%20Eiza%20Gonzalez%2C%20John%20Bradley%2C%20Alex%20Sharp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Schedule for show courts
Centre Court - from 4pm UAE time
Johanna Konta (6) v Donna Vekic
Andy Murray (1) v Dustin Brown
Rafael Nadal (4) v Donald Young
Court 1 - from 4pm UAE time
Kei Nishikori (9) v Sergiy Stakhovsky
Qiang Wang v Venus Williams (10)
Beatriz Haddad Maia v Simona Halep (2)
Court 2 - from 2.30pm
Heather Watson v Anastasija Sevastova (18)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) v Simone Bolelli
Florian Mayer v Marin Cilic (7)
Leaderboard
63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)
64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)
66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)
67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)
68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)
