Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, has hailed the return of a major fitness drive using the emirate's malls to keep people on the move during the intense summer heat.
Sheikh Hamdan is urging the public to step out in support of the second annual Dubai Mallathon, which will get under way on Monday, June 15.
A number of the emirate's biggest malls will be transformed into running tracks to encourage the public to stay active even as temperatures climb.
More than 40,000 participants laced up their running shoes to take part in the inaugural edition of the month-long community event last August.
This year's Dubai Mallathon will run for three months, offering even more people the opportunity to put their best foot forward to beat the heat.
The six participating malls are: Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Centre, Dubai Festival City Mall, Deira City Centre and Dubai Hills Mall.
The venues will provide safe, air-conditioned environments to encourage walking and running and other physical activities.
Encouraging healthy lifestyles
“Health and quality of life are the foundation of thriving societies and essential to empowering people, enhancing their wellbeing, and enabling them to contribute, innovate and succeed," Sheikh Hamdan said on Sunday.
“Dubai is a city for everyone, and its facilities are designed to serve all members of society. We want every citizen, resident and visitor to feel supported and to have access to everything they need to lead a healthy, balanced and fulfilling life."
Runners can visit malls signed up for this year's programme, being held from 7am until 10am, to take part in runs or walks in distances of 2.5km, 5km or 10km.
The events will continue until Tuesday, September 15.
There will also be ladies-only tracks in some venues, with City Centre Mirdif one of the malls to offer such a track for women on the first floor, while everyone is welcome to use the ground floor circuit.
Sheikh Hamdan highlighted how such sporting initiatives launched in Dubai can serve as a platform to bring people together.
“What distinguishes Dubai is its strong sense of community. Dubai is one family united by the values of coexistence, tolerance and compassion," he said.
"Sport embodies these values as a universal language that brings people together and channels their energy towards positive goals and shared values. That is why we continue to launch community sports initiatives that strengthen these bonds and translate them into everyday experiences.”
Sheikh Hamdan invited people of all ages to take part and encouraged government and semi-government entities, private sector organisations and youth councils to support the public in adopting healthier lifestyles.
“Leading by example remains one of the most effective ways to inspire positive change and build a more active and vibrant society.”
Record-setting success
The free event was launched in 2025 by Sheikh Hamdan to encourage active lifestyles throughout the year.
The initiative created an official Guinness World Record by attracting the most runners in a mall-run event.
On August 30, 2025 a total of 1,392 participants turned out to set a new record at Dubai Hills Mall.
To take part in 2026, you can visit one of the malls, or register for official races on https://www.dubaimallathon.ae.
