23,000 runners to take part in fifth edition of Abu Dhabi Marathon 2023

Abu Dhabi: The Adnoc Abu Dhabi Marathon will return for its fifth edition on December 16, winding its way past iconic landmarks such as the Crown Prince Court and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, race organisers confirmed on Thursday.

The 42.195-km race, organised by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), will start on Corniche Road and take an expected 23,000 participants on a scenic journey past several of the capital’s most stunning sites, including Al Bateen Palace, Qasr Al Hosn, and the World Trade Centre.

The race will finish at the ADNOC Campus, near Baynunah Public Park, where a lively race village will be set up for participants and spectators to enjoy.

The annual event, which offers a prize pool of $303,000, aims to cement the Adnoc Abu Dhabi Marathon as one of the Middle East’s premier marathon events. In a commitment to catering to runners of all levels and providing ample training opportunities, the organisers have also announced that the Race Series Edition will return for 2023, enabling participants to compete in shorter distances in the lead-up to the main event.

Fun community run

The three-part Race Series, introduced to aid runners in their preparation, caters to individuals of all experience levels and goals, and the first of this year’s pre-race events took place at Yas Mall on September 2, covering distances of 1km, 2.5km, and 5km. The second Race Series event was held on October 7 at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, with distances of 1km, 2.5km, 5km, and 10km. The third race will take place at Al Hudayriyat Island on November 4, featuring distances ranging from 1km to a 21k Half-Marathon.

Additionally, an all-new Al Dhannah Community Run, an Adnoc Special Edition Race, will be held in Al Dhannah city’s Central Park on October 15. With distances ranging from 1km, 2.5km, 5km, and 10km, it promises to be a fun community run as well as great preparation for the December 16 main event.

Suhail Al Arifi, Executive Director of the Events Sector at Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “Organising an exceptional event for the fifth time comes as a continuation of the successes and remarkable turnout achieved by previous editions of the Marathon, which has become one of the most prominent international events, thanks to the combined efforts of everyone.”