Dubai: If you’re shopping at a mall in Dubai before 10am, don’t be surprised to see people dressed up in sports gear, zipping past you.They’re participating in the Dubai Mallathon.Martina Fuchs, a Swiss business journalist and co-founder of the Frequency School in Dubai, said she loved taking part: “It is a lot of fun and such a uniquely Dubai experience! Where else can you go for a morning run inside one of the world's largest shopping malls because it’s simply too hot outside?”The city-wide health initiative, organised by the Dubai Sports Council, runs from June 15 to September 15. Every morning, from 6am to 10am, Dubai’s top malls transform into fitness hubs, with walkways, health stations, kids’ zones, step tracking and special offers – all with the goal of simplifying healthy living and bringing together Dubai’s community of active residents in the summer.Seven malls are participating in the initiative: Dubai Mall, Deira City Centre, Mirdif City Centre, Dubai Festival City, Dubai Hills Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and Gate Avenue.The initiative returns for its second year after making history in its inaugural edition, when the Dubai Mallathon became an official Guinness World Records title holder for the Most Runners in a Mall Run Event, with over 40,000 participants and over 203 million steps clocked.Movement and communityFrom left to right: Raya Al-Ashi and Allaoua Gaham, along with their friend Martina Fuchs, all participated in the Dubai Mallathon. Picture credit: SuppliedFuchs, who has lived in Dubai for six years, was joined by two friends at the Dubai Mallathon. She said: “On the day, I completed one lap, which was only about 1.5 km. I normally run around 10km every day on the treadmill at the gym, so I wasn’t using the event as a training session but rather as a chance to enjoy the experience and support the initiative.”The Mallathon is an example of the city’s spirit of innovation, according to Fuchs. Turning a bold idea into reality – converting malls into indoor running tracks – is a classic Dubai-it moment for the city.She said: “I think it's a brilliant initiative. Summer temperatures can make outdoor exercise challenging, and the Mallathon removes one of the biggest barriers by creating comfortable, accessible spaces where everyone can stay active. I hope initiatives like this inspire other cities around the world to think creatively about how to use spaces and promote physical activity, especially in regions with extreme climates. If we can make exercise more accessible and enjoyable, everyone benefits.”For Fuchs, seeing people from all fitness levels at the mall has been inspiring.She added: “What's particularly impressive is that it encourages people who might not normally exercise. Whether you're a serious runner, someone who enjoys a leisurely walk, families with children or older residents, everyone can participate. It's inclusive, social and makes fitness feel enjoyable rather than intimidating.”While Fuchs went for the atmosphere and community, Dr Shefali Verma used the Mallathon as a training opportunity.The British doctor, who grew up in Dubai, has registered for a HYROX race in September – a global indoor fitness race that combines eight kilometres of running with eight functional workout stations.She said: “I needed to get more running in and the Mallathon is a massive rescue to get the kilometres in. [Training] in the summer isn’t always easy… doing things outdoors is not really ideal.”Perfect training groundDr Shefali Verma has already clocked 35km at the Mallathon, as she trains for an upcoming event. Picture credit: SuppliedBecause of the Mallathon’s comfortable indoor environment, Dr Verma has already clocked 35km. She brings her kids along once a week, and says everyone completes the run at their own pace.Her goal is to keep her family moving: “Movement is one of the things I talk about in all my practice healthcare seminars. It should be non-negotiable – that’s why we do physical education (PE) at school. It’s part of the curriculum, to understand its importance and benefits in life. But movement needs to be appropriate to be beneficial. To some, that could be stretching, to others a marathon. To some it can be one-kilometre walk, and to some, it could be sprinting. It’s not about always chasing fatigue, but about chasing performance.”That’s why Dubai Mallathon works so well, according to Dr Verma. She said: “It allows us to move, regardless of the weather. It allows us to do walk meetings, and bring the whole family out, or bring a group of friends together, and do what is appropriate for them during the same time frame. It allows for our training, especially running, to not end, even when the good weather does.”The fact that Dubai’s malls offer a safe space for her children, and provide a recreational experience, is also wonderful, according to Dr Verma. She added: “The waiting period after, is different at a mall, where all the coffee shops are open. Some are even doing free tea and coffee for the ‘Mallathoners’.”Beginners welcomeEven if you’re not preparing for a marathon or race, the Mallathon acts as the perfect stomping ground for people of all fitness levels.Mico Banua, a Filipino content creator who has lived in Dubai for over 10 years, said he joined the Mallathon with the expectation of just participating in a walk or a run. But it turned out to be much more than that.He explained: “What I loved most was that there was no pressure – it truly felt like an event for everyone. Whether you wanted to walk, jog, or run, you could go at your own pace and simply focus on getting your steps in. I also really enjoyed the warm-up and cool-down sessions led by the coaches. They kept everyone motivated and energised throughout the event.”Banua is just beginning his fitness and wellness journey. But on his first day at the Mallathon, he completed 10 laps, which came up to about 10km, and said he surprised himself: “I alternated between running and walking, so it felt very manageable.”Since then, he has been back three more times, and said he will continue participating.Banua is appreciative of Dubai for involving residents in such thoughtful city-wide initiatives: “It’s one of the things I really admire about Dubai. The city genuinely invests in the community’s well-being by creating fun, accessible, and inclusive ways for people to stay fit despite the weather. It’s a creative and innovative approach that makes healthy living more achievable for everyone.”A family fun dayLukhie Songwiqi (left-most), with members of the Dad Club DXB, enjoyed themselves at the Mallathon. Picture credit: SuppliedWhile the Mallathon is a place to develop physical fitness, its impact extends to other aspects of wellbeing, too.South African national Lukhanyo Songwiqi, who goes by the name Lukhie, works in real estate in Dubai. He said: “Exercise isn’t just about physical health, it has a huge impact on mental wellbeing too. The easier we make it for people to move, the healthier and happier our communities become.”Lukhie participated at the Mallathon with Dad Club DXB, a community organisation he leads for fathers from around the city: “We were a large group of dads with kids, so running was basically off the cards – unless it was running after your toddler when they decided to leg it! We enjoyed the walk, and stopped off for breakfast afterwards.”Finding opportunities to stay active is important to Lukhie, and being able to do it indoors in the summer is ideal: “The controlled indoor environment definitely makes it easier than running outside in summer, but it’s still a good workout. The biggest challenge was probably resisting the smell of coffee and pastries as you run past all the cafés! I’d absolutely take part again.”He especially appreciates how the safe environment and well-planned initiative are conducive for families who are looking for something new or interesting to do together.He said: “I really liked seeing so many families participating together. As the founder of Dad Club, I’m passionate about helping fathers spend meaningful time with their children, and events like the Mallathon show that exercise can be something families enjoy together, rather than something that has to happen separately.”Whether it’s movement you’re looking for, a sense of community, or just a unique way to spend your morning, the Dubai Mallathon is giving people from all backgrounds and fitness levels a way to stay active this summer. Try it out, before it ends on September 15.Quick facts: Dubai MallathonWhen: June 15 to September 15, 2026. Every morning: 6am to 10am.Where: Dubai Mall, Deira City Centre, Mirdif City Centre, Dubai Festival City, Dubai Hills Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and Gate Avenue.Registered events: Join daily runs for free - no registration required. If you would like to participate in Pro Racing events, held every Saturday at 7am across Dubai’s malls, pre-registration is mandatory at dubaimallathon.ae. Visit the website to see the schedule, and register. Race events are also free to join.
