Thousands compete in Spartan Race in Dubai - in pictures

Competitors navigate their way through a rope obstacle.

About 5,000 people took part in the longer, tougher Dubai Spartan Race.

A man pulls himself up an obstacle.

People pull themselves up on the ropes.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid attended the second Spartan Race to be held in Dubai on Friday at Jebel Ali racecourse.

Sheikh Mohammed spoke to some of the participants, who briefed him on the objectives and stages of the race.

He said he encouraged people to participate in such sports, as they help spread the culture of sport among the community, as well as helping to promote fitness, happiness and foster a spirit of harmony among people in the UAE.

The obstacle race, which began last year with a 5km course, this year added a 13km with 30 obstacles for the more adventurous and a 1.8km with 12 obstacles for juniors, the 5km this year with 20 obstacles.

The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai watched on as his son, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and more than 5,000 others participated in the event.

Competitors on one of the obstacles.

A man smiles as a he encourages a female competitor under the barbed wire.

Runner jump over a firey pit.

Runners crawl under the barbed wire.

People clumb up and down the A frame obstacle.

The obstacle race, which began last year with a 5km course, this year added a 13km course with 30 obstacles for the more adventurous and a 1.8km race with 12 obstacles for juniors. The 5km race had 20 obstacles. All photos by Pawan Singh / The National