Dubai Run 2023 breaks record with over 226,000 people taking over Sheikh Zayed Road for world's biggest fun run

The Dubai Run 2023. DUBAI MEDIA OFFICE

The Dubai Run broke its record on Sunday (November 26) with more than 226,000 people descending on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai for the world's largest fun run. The iconic highway turned into a giant race track as it closed to traffic to make way for the sea of orange runners, walkers and joggers. The Dubai Run was led by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai. UAE astronauts Sultan Al Neyadi and Hazzaa Al Mansouri also participated in the Dubai Run. Also joining the run were Al Neyadi’s fellow Expedition 69 crew members from his historic mission aboard the International Space Station, including American astronauts Stephen Bowen, Warren Hoburg, and Francisco Rubio, as well as Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopev, Dimitrii Petelin, and Andrei Fediaev. "Their presence and participation served as a powerful testament to the transformative power of embracing a healthy lifestyle," according to the Dubai Media Office. At the launch of the fifth edition of the Dubai Run, astronaut Al Neyadi presented the Dubai Fitness Challenge flag to Sheikh Hamdan. The Dubai Media Office called the Dubai Run as a “reflection of Dubai’s status as one of the most active and dynamic cities worldwide.” Open to fitness enthusiasts of all levels, the Dubai Run featured the 5km run and the 10km run, which both started near the Museum of the Future. The 5km run ended near the Dubai Mall while the 10km run ended at Dubai International Financial Centre. The Dubai Run, which began in 2019, has become of the most widely participated yearly events in Dubai, drawing in more and more people with each edition. Last year, the Dubai Ran drew more than 193,000 participants, hitting a new record. It is one of the highlights of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, a 30-day initiative by the Dubai Government to encourage residents and tourists to develop and adopt a healthy lifestyle. ICA/Expat Media