Dubai's summer sporting initiative, the Mallathon 2026, which turned the city's shopping malls into racing venues, wrapped up with 160,475 participants who collectively logged more than 290 million steps over the three-month event.
Running from June 15 to September 15, 2026, the programme spanned more than nine venues, including Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Hills Mall, City Centre Mirdif, Dubai Festival City Mall and City Centre Deira, along with three new additions this year: Dubai International Airport, the Dubai International Financial Centre and Ibn Battuta Mall.
Organised by the Dubai Sports Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, the event featured more than 14 weekly races, a full marathon staged inside Dubai Mall, a 21km half-marathon and a dedicated Women's Mallathon marking Emirati Women's Day.
Khalfan Belhoul, vice chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, said the enthusiasm shown by participants illustrated how sport can bring the community together and encourage active participation.
The inaugural edition of the mallathon had already set a Guinness World Record for the largest number of participants in a running race held inside a shopping mall, and this year's edition built on that success with a bigger turnout and an expanded list of venues.