The Abu Dhabi Marathon has been awarded Gold Label status, marking its rise as one of the world’s leading road races
Abu Dhabi Marathon just hit a big milestone. World Athletics has awarded the race its Gold Label Road Race status, placing the Abu Dhabi Marathon among the world’s top road running events. It is not handed out lightly. In fact, races are judged on everything from organisation and safety to international participation and runner experience. The Abu Dhabi Marathon ticks those boxes and then some, which says a lot for an event that only launched in 2018.
Since then, in a few short years, it has grown from a promising debut to a major date on the global running calendar. The first race drew just over 10,000 runners. Today, more than 37,000 people took part, representing over 150 nationalities. Clearly, that kind of growth does not happen by accident.
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The format helps. There is a full marathon for serious runners, a half marathon, and shorter distances. This opens the door to anyone who wants to be part of the race. You will see elite athletes chasing times alongside first-timers just trying to cross the finish line. It is a mix that works.
For the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Gold Label is a sign that the race has found its place on the world stage. At the same time, it also underlines a bigger push to get more people moving. Whether that means training for 42.2 kilometres or simply showing up for a fun run.
The marathon has become one of the capital’s standout annual events. It brings the city to life early in the morning. The roads close, crowds line the route and runners take over the streets. Now, with Gold Label status in the bag, it feels like the next chapter is only going to get bigger
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