Dubai – 16 September 2026
Gate Avenue has hosted its first Dubai Mallathon, bringing walking, running and community activities to the DIFC community throughout the summer.
The programme concluded with a weekend run on Sunday, 13 September, bringing together DIFC employees, their families and community residents around a shared focus on movement and wellbeing.
Launched in 2025 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, Dubai Mallathon is led by the Crown Prince of Dubai Office in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council.
The initiative supports Dubai’s vision of enhancing quality of life by creating accessible opportunities for people to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines. Its programme at Gate Avenue extended this focus to the DIFC community throughout the summer.
From 1 August, Gate Avenue was transformed into a 1.2km indoor, air-conditioned walking and running route, providing a comfortable environment for the community and visitors to stay active regardless of fitness level.
Throughout the programme, DIFC’s workforce of 50,000 was invited to take part in daily runs, alongside dedicated activities including the FLTR Community Run, an Emirati Women’s Day Run and a Kids’ Run.
Managed on the ground by Dubai-based sports events organiser Peloton, the daily programme gave participants the opportunity to complete laps with support from expert coaches, who led warm-ups and cool-downs.
Saleh Al Akrabi, Chief Real Estate Officer at DIFC Investments, said: “Dubai Mallathon created a simple and accessible way for people across the city to stay active during the summer, and we were proud to welcome the event to Gate Avenue for the first time. Over six weeks, we saw people come together through a shared focus on movement and wellbeing. This initiative reflects what we continue to foster at DIFC: healthy living integrated into everyday life, with meaningful opportunities for people to connect, participate, and thrive.”
The initiative forms part of DIFC’s wider focus on wellbeing, alongside year-round activities including Yogalates Under the Gate and PULSE, supporting active and healthy lifestyles.
