Dubai's summer answer to the heat has ended in record numbers. More than 160,000 people took part in the second Dubai Mallathon, a three-month event that turned shopping malls across the emirate into sporting venues. The official count was 160,475 participants, who together logged more than 290 million steps.

How the event worked

The initiative ran from 15 June to 15 September under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. It was organised by the Dubai Sports Council with the Ministry of Defence and spanned more than nine malls and destinations.

Those sites matter in a city where daytime temperatures can be punishing. Today's forecast shows the point. Temperatures are expected to reach 41°C in Dubai and Sharjah and 44°C in Abu Dhabi. Air-conditioned malls offered a safe, comfortable place to run or walk when outdoor exercise is hard.

New venues and a bigger programme

Three venues were added this year: Dubai International Airport, Dubai International Financial Centre and Ibn Battuta Mall. They joined existing sites including Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Hills Mall, City Centre Mirdif, Dubai Festival City Mall and City Centre Deira.

The programme included more than 14 weekly races, events marking Emirati Women's Day, a full marathon held inside Dubai Mall and a 21-kilometre half-marathon. The Women's Mallathon marked Emirati Women's Day on 28 August.

Putting the numbers in context

Organisers say the 290 million steps are a collective total. Spread evenly, that is roughly 1,800 steps per participant, though the published figures do not show how many people returned week after week. What the data do show is scale: at 160,475 participants, the event is among the region's largest community fitness programmes. Last year's edition set a Guinness World Record for the largest number of participants in a running race inside a shopping mall.

What organisers said

Khalfan Belhoul, vice chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, said professional athletes, amateur runners, beginners and families all took part, and that their enthusiasm showed sport can bring the community together. Saeed Hareb, the council's secretary general, called the mallathon a leading global model for turning strategic visions into tangible results, adding that it turned retail sites into sporting spaces and offered a safe experience for everyone.

Part of a wider public health agenda

The initiative was launched in line with the Dubai Social Agenda 33 and the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033, and supports the goals of the UAE's Year of the Family. Official sponsors included Al Ameen Service, Mai Dubai, Huawei and Yango Group.

That framing explains why the event has official backing. Dubai has set long-term goals for residents' health and wellbeing, and low-cost, family-friendly activity in familiar places is an easy way to encourage exercise. For many beginners, a mall race with a clear route and facilities nearby is a less intimidating start than a road race.

What residents can take from it

Fitness professionals often say consistency beats intensity, and a weekly event over three months suits that approach. Residents who joined and want to keep going can look at Dubai's growing number of community runs as temperatures ease into the cooler months, when outdoor routes become more attractive again. Anyone new to running should build up gradually and speak to a doctor before starting a demanding programme.

What comes next

Organisers have not yet announced details of a 2027 edition. Given the growth in participation, new venues this year and a second consecutive record, further expansion is plausible, but readers should wait for official confirmation from the Dubai Sports Council.