United Arab Emirates
Dubai Marathon 2027
Sunday 17 January 2027 · confirmed date
86 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 17 January 2027
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 06:30
- local time
- Course
- Flat · Out and back
- Al Taryam Road by the Dubai Police Academy, near Madinat Jumeirah to Dubai Police Academy parade ground
- Course record, men
- 2:03:34
- Getaneh Molla, 2019
- Course record, women
- 2:16:07
- Tigist Ketema, 2024
- Time limit
- 6h00
The race
About the Dubai Marathon
The Dubai Marathon describes itself as the Middle East's oldest international marathon, and it is best known for speed: Getaneh Molla ran 2:03:34 here in 2019 and Tigist Ketema 2:16:07 in 2024. It also has a habit of producing debut winners, and in 2026 Nibret Melak became the sixth consecutive men's champion to win on his marathon debut.
For everyone else, it is a flat, compact race along Jumeirah Beach Road with the Burj Al Arab in view, run in the cool early hours of a Gulf winter. The field is modest, with about 4,000 marathon entries in 2026 alongside a 10 km and a 4 km fun run. It suits runners looking for a winter target with mild weather and a fast course.
Course
The Dubai Marathon course
The marathon starts on Al Taryam Road beside the Dubai Police Academy, near Madinat Jumeirah. Runners first follow Al Sufouh Road past Dubai College and the entrance to Palm Jumeirah, turning at Dubai Media City, then come back past Madinat Jumeirah onto Jumeirah Beach Road.
The heart of the race is a long out-and-back on Jumeirah Beach Road, run twice, past the Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel to a turnaround before the bridge at the Creek. After the second lap, the course returns past Madinat Jumeirah and finishes on the parade ground of the Police Academy. It is flat throughout, so the variables are pacing, the U-turns and the rising temperature.
Race-day weather
Usually mild and dry, around 13-18°C at the start, warming to 20-25°C by late morning.
Train
Training for the Dubai Marathon 2027
12 weeks to go. A marathon plan runs 12 to 24 weeks and ends on race week. Here is when each one starts.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 3 August 2026 (already started) |
| 20 weeks | Monday 31 August 2026 (already started) |
| 16 weeks | Monday 28 September 2026 (already started) |
| 12 weeks | Monday 26 October 2026 |
For this course
A January race puts your key weeks in late autumn and early winter, with cold, dark long runs and the holidays in the middle of the build, so plan the festive period around your longest sessions. Race morning is mild but warms quickly: practise drinking regularly and start at a pace you can hold as the sun rises. Rehearse tight U-turns in training. Dubai is three hours ahead of France in winter, so jet lag is limited, but the 6:30 start still means a very early alarm.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Dubai Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Entry is by direct online registration on the official website, open to runners aged 18 and over. The organisers also list tour companies for runners travelling from abroad.
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by Pace Events FZ LLC
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Dubai Marathon 2027?
The Dubai Marathon 2027 is on Sunday 17 January 2027. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the Dubai Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 28 September 2026, a 20-week plan on 31 August 2026. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
What is the time limit for the Dubai Marathon?
There is an official six-hour limit at the finish. Runners still on course after that are asked to continue on the footpaths as roads reopen.
Is the Dubai Marathon fast?
Yes. The course is flat and the records, 2:03:34 for men and 2:16:07 for women, are world-class times. Early-morning temperatures are mild, though it warms up as the morning goes on.
How do I enter the Dubai Marathon?
Registration is online only, through the official website, for runners aged 18 and over.
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