Dubai Run 2025: Thousands of runners take over Sheikh Zayed Road on Sunday morning

Excitement in the air

The iconic Dubai Run is set to begin soon with a full turnout. People of all ages and fitness levels gathered at the start point to make their way through Sheikh Zayed Road, which has been transformed into a running track.

Participants started gathering as early as 5am on Sunday morning, and were greeted with stunning aerial performances. Stunt paramotors lit up the sky with a wonderful display of sparkly lights, drumming up the excitement in the already charged crowd.

Apart from aerial stunts, there are also inflatable costumes, drummers, DJs, and several other entertainment programmes planned to keep energy levels high. Stay tuned as Khaleej Times brings you all the updates live from the track!

Dubai Metro barricades

Barriers and additional security personnel are in place at several metro stations around the Sheikh Zayed Road in anticipation of the crowds at Dubai Run. The network began operating at 3am on Sunday to enable people to get to and from the race easily.

Only a few mins to go!

Thousands gather at the start line, ready to begin the biggest run of the year.

Thousands of people continue to arrive at the various metro stations to make their way to the front lines of the Dubai Run.

Those who are participating in the 5k run have been asked to get off at the DWTC metro station and those who are running the 10K have to alight at the Emirates Tower metro station. The start line will close at 8:15

And we’re off!

The seventh edition of the Dubai Run begins with cheers and excited smiles, as supercars make their way down Sheikh Zayed Road in a splendid parade.

Sun rises above Dubai Run

The gentle morning sun’s first rays illuminated the participants who had been waiting for hours to begin this year’s run.

Stunning aerial performances

Crowds waiting for the run to begin had plenty of entertainment, as skilled aerial stunt performers took to the skies above Sheikh Zayed Road.

Students have fun with run

University students Mikhail, Tyra, Cee, Jana and Ava left their homes at 3.30am to reach the Dubai Run at 4am. They got the inflatable costumes that were being handed out at the start line. “It’s a lot of fun,” said Cee. “It is my first time participating in the run and I am enjoying myself.”

Family and friends

Every year for the last 7 years Marian Garcia and Justin have participated in the Dubai Run. This year they are back with their family friend Asma and their children Jade, 7, and Jesi, 2.

It is Asma’s first time participating in the event. “I register every year but don’t come because of other commitments, but this year, I was determined to come,” she said. “I am so excited. There are so many people who have left their beds so early in the morning to come here and participate. It is such an amazing community initiative.”

Flying over the cheering crowd

As the aerial stunt paramotors made a second round across the skies, runners paused to take photos, videos or simply to look at them in amazement.

Team Angelwolf inspires

Team Angelwolf was once again on the front lines of the Dubai Run to inspire people to keep moving.

Founded by Nick Watson and his wife Delphine in 2014 to support their son Rio, Team AngelWolf have been at the forefront of every Dubai Run since it began. The group, who participate with Rio in his specialised running chair, are regularly seen at sports events across the UAE.

Fun run in the sun!

Some people posed, while others decided to lie down on Sheikh Zayed Road as thousands of runners turned one of the city’s main highways into their own personal photo booth for Dubai Run.

Inflatable costumes bring bursts of levity and colour to the already enjoyable run.

Dubai Police ensures safety

Dubai Police volunteers and Dubai Run marshals monitored the roads and made safety sweeps as another wave of runners began from the start line. Hundreds of runners are still making their way to the beginning of the fun run.

UAE flag

Aerial stunt paramotors flew past Sheikh Zayed Road with the flag of UAE and Dubai Fitness Challenge.

What’s the weather like today?

It’s a pleasant Sunday morning, with partly cloudy skies above Sheikh Zayed Road, and rains anticipated in other parts of the country.

‘Wheelchair accessible’

Saudi Arabian national Hind was one of the participants at the Dubai Run. “This is my third time participating in the event,” she said. “I love the community vibe of it. Also, the event is very wheelchair accessible. So that makes it all the more easier for me to participate.”

11 months old, and already running!

Baby Zanish stopped for some quick refreshments at the side of Sheikh Zayed Road to continue on his 5k. The 11-month-old came for the run with 11 members of his family and was excited to be out and about.

Crowd control

Meanwhile hundreds of participants continue to wait at the start line to begin the run. The runners are being allowed to start only in batches to keep the crowds under control.

Finishing the run before work

Dr. Isna Ismail arrived at the start line of the Dubai Run before the crack of dawn to participate in the event on a working day for her. “I wanted to complete my 5K before I started my duty,” she said. “I have to be in the clinic by 9am but I love the community vibe of this event. So I wanted to participate in it even if it meant waking up at 5am.”

Sea of blue

Waves of runners in their Dubai Run T-shirts have transformed Sheikh Zayed Road into a teeming ocean of blue.

This beautiful timelapse shows how the run progresses, highlighted by iconic Dubai landmarks.

First-time experience

68-year-old Ambujan and his wife Sheeja were visiting their daughter Navya and her husband Dileep, when they heard about the Dubai Run. They decided to participate in it, leaving their home in Sharjah at 5am.

“We put our alarms for 4am and got ready,” said Ambujan. “We took a taxi to Stadium metro station and then took a train to get here.”

Navya said that she wanted her parents to have the experience of walking on Sheikh Zayed Road. “It is my first time participating as well,” she said. “It is truly a great feeling to be walking with so many people of so many different ages.”

Which way to go?

Volunteers stood at the first interchange with signboards on which way to turn. The 5km run takes participants around the Mohammed bin Rashid boulevard to end at the Dubai Mall. The 10km route goes past the Dubai Canal bridge to end near DIFC.

All the way from Abu Dhabi

Sidhique left his home in Abu Dhabi at 2am to make it to Dubai in time for the run. He participated with the families of his friends Jabir and Shemeer. “We reached the expo metro station by around 3.30am,” he said. “Then we took the metro to DWTC. This is the fourth year we are making this trek and every year we go back to Abu Dhabi feeling energised by the active community.”

Runners split to take different routes

Runners on the 5k route make their way on to the Dubai Mall bridge to finish their run around the Downtown area.

Participants of the 10k run make their way through the DIFC tunnel to end their run near the Gate Village.

‘Let’s go!’

Volunteers cheered runners on with speakers and motivational messages at various points of the run.

Time to go home already for some

Crowds swelled outside the metro stations as people tried to get home after completing their run.

Emotional last Dubai Run

Shireen Mansoor has participated in every Dubai Run so far but this year is an emotional one for her. The youngster is getting married in two weeks and moving away. “I am getting married in December and then moving to Germany,” she said. “So even though my mom and I have a to-do list stretching a mile, we wanted to participate in one last Dubai Run together. So here we are.”

Song and dance at Dubai Run

Some participants turned the event into their own private concert complete with drums, singing and dance. Other participants also joined in the fun and danced along.

National pride

The UAE flag was a prominent sight at the Dubai Run, with multiple participants proudly waving the national symbol as they ran down Sheikh Zayed Road.

Less than half hour for roads to open

With less than half an hour to go before roads reopen to traffic, Dubai Police patrols are manning the streets to make sure people are safe.

Smiles from the run

From old to young, from experienced athletes to newbies, it was all smiles at Sheikh Zayed Road this morning.

Sustainable and clean

Waste bins were installed at regular intervals throughout the course of the run. It was earlier announced that the water bottles handed out during the event would be responsibly recycled.

Final runners

Barricades have been put up on Sheikh Zayed Road as the final runners are being escorted away from the highway.

Nearing the end

As the last runners leave the road, signages are being taken down and roads are being cleared, in a precise and efficient coordination between authorities.

Dubai Metro ready to take runners home

The Dubai metro network has trains at close intervals to help thousands of runners get home.

Barricades removed

Baricades were removed, security sweeps were conducted on Sheikh Zayed Road before it opened to traffic.

SZR opens towards Abu Dhabi 

After a thorough clean-up and sweep by the authorities, the major road has opened up in the Abu Dhabi direction.

Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road resumes

The highway fully opened up for vehicles as the Dubai Run officially ended for this year.

What a run!

The atmosphere at Dubai Run 2025 was electric. The day was characterised by colour, spectacle, and laughter as thousands of participants ran down the central highway of Dubai. With a backdrop of the city’s iconic monuments, the rising sun and stunning aerial performances, the runners had no dearth of motivation to complete the event.

Dubai authorities ensured a smooth journey for all. From a thorough sweep at the beginning of the run, to ensuring roads were cleared at the end before cars were allowed, the efficiency of the police and other officials allowed runners to relax and have fun.

Keep following Khaleej Times through the last week of the Dubai Fitness Challenge and beyond as we bring you the latest in sports and activity in the city.

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