Next race
Saturday, 5 December 2026
6:00 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Urban road
Elevation
Flat · 50 m gain
50 m climbing
Race profile
The Abu Dhabi Marathon is a world-class elite event launched in 2018, attracting top international runners and a few thousand finishers on a fast desert-city course. The route passes the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque approach, the Corniche waterfront, and Yas Island connectors. December cool mornings and dead-flat terrain make it a record-eligible race in the UAE capital.
Abu Dhabi Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 3,500 finishers
Course & terrain
The Abu Dhabi Marathon is a flat loop that starts and finishes on the Corniche, tracing the Gulf shoreline past the Emirates Palace area and onto Yas Island roads with modern city views. Fast conditions suit quick times, and spectators cluster along the Corniche and at cheer stations around the loop.
The Abu Dhabi Marathon course is flat over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 50 metres of climbing and 50 metres of descent, with minimal net elevation change from start to finish.
Registration
The Abu Dhabi Marathon uses open registration at abudhabimarathon.ae with no ballot or qualifying time. Sign-up for the November race typically opens in autumn and the flat Corniche course draws strong international participation. Early registration secures lower tier pricing before the field limit is reached.
Getting there
Zayed International Airport (AUH)
26 km / 16 mi
Race footage
Common questions
Official resources
Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Close to this race
Other races closest to Abu Dhabi.
The Dubai Marathon is one of the world's fastest elite marathons, with a tiny elite field chasing world-class times on a dead-flat desert-city course each January. Though finisher numbers are limited compared with mass-participation races, the event draws global attention for its prize money and record-eligible route along Dubai's modern highway corridors.
Next race: Sunday, 17 January 2027
Riyadh's multi-distance marathon festival, based at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. The official 2026 routes include a 42.195 km marathon, half marathon, 10 km and 5 km; the longer races use northern Riyadh roads and the shorter races stay on university roads. The 2027 date remains to be announced.
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
When a flat course helps your time, when hills are worth the view, and how to pick terrain that fits your training and goals.
How temperature, humidity, wind, and rain affect marathon performance — and how to use typical race-day weather when choosing a start line.
Match a race to your goals — personal bests, sightseeing, atmosphere, or a major milestone — using course data and realistic expectations.
