Mallathon: Dubai’s Cool Solution to Summer Fitness

As the mercury rises outside, Dubai’s malls are buzzing—for fitness. Hundreds of runners and walkers are joining Mallathon, a government-backed, indoor race series designed to keep people active during August, the UAE’s hottest month.

Read Also: Stay Active Indoors: Walking Clubs at UAE Malls

With summer temperatures often reaching 50°C, outdoor exercise can be unsafe. “If you run outside, it’s not healthy at all because temperatures are around 40°C to 50°C,” said one participant, Rai.

Instead, Mallathon turns vast, air-conditioned shopping centers into morning fitness hubs, with participants in branded T-shirts pacing quiet, marble-floored corridors before shops open.

Read Also: Yas Mall Walking Club: Fitness Meets Fun

Throughout August, nine malls—including the giant Dubai Mall—are open daily from 7 AM to 10 AM for walkers and runners.

Weekends feature organized races of 10km, 5km, and 2.5km at select venues, complete with podiums and prizes.

At City Centre Mirdif, robots roamed the course for selfie stops, while electric bikes powered smoothie-making blenders—fitness with a playful twist.

Read Also: Dubai August 2025: Fitness Meets Shopping Extravaganza

Backed by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Mallathon is part of a broader push to get a car-loving, mall-centric city moving, alongside initiatives like the 30x30 challenge.

The need is pressing: a recent study in The Lancet predicts that 94% of UAE males could be overweight or obese by 2050.

Intensifying heat only adds to the challenge—the UAE recorded its hottest April ever this year and hit 51.8°C on August 1.

For many residents, the indoor shift makes all the difference. “There’s no way I’d exercise outside in summer,” said Menna, a 36-year-old Egyptian who has lived in Dubai for 15 years. “In the mall, we have air-conditioning, first aid, water—everything you need. And it’s motivating when others are doing it too.”

Poll

What's your go-to workout time?

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

According to Fouzeya Faridoon, head of social activities at Dubai Sports Council, more than 500 people registered for Saturday’s free event.

Participants spanned ages and abilities, with children, adults, and at least one person with a disability crossing the finish line to collect medals and goodie bags.

Tourists joined in as well—Zamani, a 46-year-old from Sri Lanka, ran with her young children. “I like the energy—everybody is all geared up,” she said.

Mallathon shows how Dubai’s malls can be more than shopping destinations—they can be community spaces that make staying active safe, social, and fun, even in the height of summer.

Source: rte

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.