Dubai Marathon 2023 highlights: Expo City hosts Middle Mast’s oldest marathon

Expo City Dubai was transformed into a massive racing track Sunday morning for elite runners and fitness enthusiasts competing in the 22nd edition of the Dubai Marathon.

Organised with the support of the Dubai Sports Council and the cooperation of various government entities, the Dubai Marathon is considered one of the most prominent races on Dubai's sports calendar, with Expo City Dubai this year providing an exceptional new setting for the event.

One of the world’s fastest long distance running races, the 2023 edition of the event drew the participation of 16,975 runners of different age groups and fitness abilities from across the UAE and the world.

Mattar Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, crowned this year’s winners, which saw Ethiopian Abdisa Tola win with a world-leading time of 2:05:42 on his marathon debut in the professional men’s race, while compatriots Deresa Geleta and Haymanot Alew Engdayehu came in second and third respectively.

Ethiopian world champion Tamirat Tola's wife Dera Dida won the women's race at the Dubai Marathon, while his brother Abdisa Tola triumphed in the men's event.

The winners were crowned in the presence of Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council; Naser Aman Al-Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council; Salah Talak, Joint Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Duty Free;  Ahmad Al Kamali, General Coordinator of the Dubai Marathon; and Peter Connerton, Manager of the Dubai Marathon. The race carried prize money worth more than $500,000. 

In the wheelchair event, there was another triumph in a major marathon for Marcel Hug. The Swiss “Silver Bullet” took the event in 1:23:50 while Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Great Britain won the women’s race in 1:47:15.

Abdisa Tola, 22, won with a world-leading time of 2:05:42 on his marathon debut while compatriots Deresa Geleta and Haymanot Alew Engdayehu came second and third respectively.

Dida celebrated the biggest win of her career by clocking a personal best of 2:21:11, with Ruti Aga second and Siranesh Yirga third on an all-Ethiopian podium.

Staged in a new venue at Expo City Dubai, the 22nd edition of the Middle East’s oldest marathon boasted near perfect weather with a temperature of 13C (55F) for the 6am start, rising to no more than 18C (65F) at the finish of the women’s race.

The Dubai Marathon featured three runs: the full 42.195 km marathon; the 10 km Road Race; and the 4 km Fun Run.

The marathon was held in Dubai for the first time since 2019.