ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon 2025 Route Announced With New Features And Community Focus

The Abu Dhabi Sports Council has revealed the route for the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon 2025, scheduled for 13 December. This event will include several race categories: a full marathon of 42.2 km, a two-person relay, and shorter races of 10 km, 5 km, and 2.5 km. There will also be a special race for People of Determination.

For the first time, the marathon will start at Zayed Sports City. Runners will proceed to Arab Gulf Street, pass Capital Gate, continue to the ADNOC Headquarters, and move along the Abu Dhabi Corniche to Qasr Al Hosn. The route extends along Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Street towards the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque before returning to Zayed Sports City for the finish line.

Participants in shorter races will also begin at Zayed Sports City. They will run towards Arab Gulf Street and finish at designated points near the venue. The prize pool for this year's marathon exceeds US$305,000.

The Marathon Village will operate at Zayed Sports City from 8 to 12 December. It will be open daily from 15:00 to 22:00 and on race day from 05:00 to 13:00. The village will feature sponsor pavilions, fitness sessions, children's entertainment zones, musical performances, and artistic shows.

A pre-race press conference is set for Thursday, 11 December at 16:00 in the Marathon Village. Elite international athletes will discuss participation details and expectations for this edition.

Official Merchandise and Community Engagement

The official Nike race jersey for the marathon's seventh edition was unveiled by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. All registered runners will receive this jersey free of charge. Medals have been crafted with a design that highlights the marathon route, providing participants with a meaningful keepsake.

Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, stated that new modifications have been made to enhance this leading UAE sporting event. He said these changes aim to offer an exceptional experience that balances challenge with community involvement.

"We are pleased to witness increased participation across categories this year," Al Awani noted. "This reflects the event’s continued growth and rising interest in health and fitness within our community."

Participation Growth and Training Initiatives

This year's marathon is expected to attract over 40,000 participants—a more than 20% increase from last year’s event which had 33,000 runners across various age groups and categories including elite athletes.

To prepare for this event, two promotional races were organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council: a 10 km race in Al Dhannah in Al Dhafra region and a half marathon in Al Ain. Both events attracted thousands of runners.

Additionally, free training sessions led by the Abu Dhabi Running Team have been offered throughout the year across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra communities. These initiatives support overall well-being while promoting community-focused objectives among participants.

With inputs from WAM