Dubai's Iconic Sheikh Zayed Road Turns Blue As Over 3 Lakh Runners Join Massive Fitness Event

Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road was transformed into a river of blue on Sunday as more than three lakh runners took part in the latest edition of the Dubai Run, one of the flagship events of the Dubai Fitness

Challenge (DFC) 2025.

With a record 3,07,000 participants, the city once again reinforced its reputation for hosting the world’s largest free community run.

From the early hours of the morning, streams of runners filled the usually traffic-heavy highway, creating a striking scene widely shared across social media. Many posts captured what looked like an endless blue wave of participants stretching past Dubai’s most famous landmarks.

VIDEO: Dubai’s central Sheikh Zayed Road is covered not by cars, but by blue-clad runners as thousands take part in Dubai Run 2025 pic.twitter.com/GLVPBvgiSo

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 24, 2025

The event, part of the annual fitness challenge launched in 2017 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, brought together families, regular joggers, seasoned athletes and first-time runners in a celebration of community wellbeing.

The morning began with a parade led by Dubai Police supercars, adding a sense of spectacle to the start. The route was brought to life with entertainment ranging from giant LED puppets and warrior drummers to stilt walkers, marching bands and circus performers.

UAE flags at the starting point set a patriotic tone ahead of Eid Al Etihad, while aerial paramotors lit up the pre-dawn sky. Well-known presenters and DJs helped maintain the excitement at both the start and finish lines.

Participants could choose between a 5km family route through Downtown Dubai or a more challenging 10km route passing the Museum of the Future, Dubai Water Canal and Burj Khalifa before ending at DIFC.

(With inputs from agencies)