Dubai Marathon 2025 To Return With World Class Athletes

Former World Marathon Champion Lelisa Desisa will return to the scene of one of his most memorable victories when he joins the elite field of world-class athletes at the 24th Dubai Marathon.

In 2013, the now 34 year-old Ethiopian, set a personal best of 2.04:45 when winning the Dubai Marathon, producing a performance that announced his arrival on the world stage and set him on a path that would lead to two wins in the Boston Marathon, victory in the 2018 New York Marathon and a gold at the World Marathon Championship in 2019.

Dubai Marathon 2025

Staged under the auspices of the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Marathon will see Desisa return to competitive competition after a few years devoted to business and family matters.

Following his World Championship win in Doha in October 2019, Desisa found his international running opportunities curtailed by the global pandemic and with an eye on his post-running future focused his efforts on starting a business in Ethiopia.

The three-time big city marathon champion is back in full-time training having confirmed the Dubai Marathon for his running return.

Race Director Peter Connerton said: “Lelisa’s victory in 2013 saw one of the most memorable finishes in the history of the Dubai Marathon so we are happy to welcome him back to the event.

“Eleven years ago, Lelisa won in a sprint finish that saw the top five all finish in under two hours, five minutes – the first time that had happened in marathon history. It’s a testament to the flat and fast route we have in Dubai that Lelisa wants to continue his comeback in the UAE on January 12.”

Prior to the pandemic, Desisa was one of the hottest properties in long distance running, eight top three big city marathon finishes, including those three victories, in six years established him at the top of the sport, and his return to international competition will be eagerly anticipated.

Desisa, who also won the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in 2014, will join a field of world-class elite athletes for the 24th staging of the Middle East’s fastest international marathon and will be joined by thousands of runners competing in the three-race event.

Registration for the Marathon, the 10km Road Race and the 4km Fun Run can made online only at dubaimarathon.org.

On January 12, runners from around the world will once again tackle routes around the Jumeirah Beach Road, Al Sufouh and Umm Suqeim Road.

For international visitors, the race offers marathon runners the opportunity to compete alongside the best in the world on flat and fast roads that give them a chance for new records and personal bests.

Earlier this year, Ethiopian Tigist Ketema shocked the world by setting the fastest women’s debut marathon time ever (2.16:07), just eight months before she stormed to victory in the Berlin Marathon in September, while teenager Addisu Gobena won the men’s race, also on his marathon debut, in 2.05:01.

“Dubai is well-established as a marathon where up-and-coming elites can make a real impression on the athletics scene,” added Connerton.

“Tigist winning on her debut in Dubai then carrying that form on to Berlin later in the year is a perfect example of Dubai’s position as a showcase for the best young runners in the sport.”