Dubai Run: Sheikh Hamdan leads 146,000 joggers along Sheikh Zayed Road

The fun run is the culmination of the annual Dubai Fitness Challenge

One of Dubai's biggest thoroughfares was closed to traffic this morning, as tens of thousands of runners took part in the Dubai Run. Ruel Pableo / The National

The annual event is the culmination of the month-long Dubai Fitness Challenge, where UAE citizens, residents and visitors are invited to take part in 30 minutes of exercise, every day for 30 days. Ruel Pableo / The National

Participants enjoy the carnival atmosphere on Sheikh Zayed Road. Ruel Pableo / The National

The Dubai Run started next to the Museum of the Future at 6am. Ruel Pablo / The National

Jumping and jogging, the early morning run saw people in high spirits. Ruel Pableo / The National

The race ended near the Dubai World Trade Centre. Ruel Pableo / The National

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, at the start of the Dubai Run. Ruel Pableo / The National

Sheikh Hamdan soaks up the atmosphere. Ruel Pableo / The National

Families and children made up much of the crowd for the fun run, which has two routes along Sheikh Zayed Road, one of 5km and one of 10km. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Runners gather outside the Museum of the Future, at the start of the run. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Participants take selfies in front of the Musuem of the Future. Ruel Pableo / The National

The Dubai Run started before sunrise. Ruel Pableo / The National

Thousands of people took part in the run. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Dubai Police supercars lead the way at the start of the Dubai Run. Photo: Dubai Media Office

One of Dubai's biggest thoroughfares was closed to traffic this morning, as 146,000 runners took part in the Dubai Run.

Families and children made up much of the crowd for the fun run, which has two routes along Sheikh Zayed Road, one of 5km and one of 10km.

The annual event is the culmination of the month-long Dubai Fitness Challenge, where UAE citizens, residents and visitors are invited to take part in 30 minutes of exercise, every day for 30 days.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai who is the figurehead of the Challenge was at the start line of the race, next to the Museum of the Future.

Both routes go through the heart of the city and end near the Dubai World Trade Centre, but the longer 10km run takes in Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa.

The first run took place in 2019, and in 2020 it was reorganised to take place on a variety of different routes due to the need to socially distance during the pandemic.

The annual Dubai Ride is also very popular, and took place earlier this month, with more than 30,000 cyclists pedalling down Sheikh Zayed Road on November 5.