ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon

* In September 2018, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced the routes for the first global edition of the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon.

* The value of the prize money amounted to $379,000, of which $100,000 was allocated to each of the men’s and women’s champions in the elite race. The second in each category would receive $25,000, and the third-place winner $15,000.

* The Abu Dhabi Sports Council also allocated a financial prize for the wheelchair category, amounting to $3,150 to the first place holder in both the men and women’s categories, in addition to prizes for second and third places, as well as prizes for community races.

* The first edition featured the participation of a group of international elite male runners, such as Feyisa Lilesa from Ethiopia and Abraham Kiptum from Kenya. Amongst the women, Bahrain’s Eunice Chumba and Ethiopia’s Gelete Burka participated.

* The first ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon began on a course extending to 42.195 km for elite runners, accompanied by community races run over distances of 2.5, 5, and 10 km for various groups and ages.

* The first Marathon attracted more than 10,342 male and female competitors, representing 121 nationalities.

* Kenyan Marius Kipserem won the Men’s Elite title after covering a distance of 42.2 km in a record time of 2:04:04 hours. His compatriot Abraham Kiptum came in second, 12 seconds behind Kipserem, winning $25,000. Third place went to Ethiopian Degena Gunfa, who recorded a time of 2:07:06 hours and received a cash prize of $15,000.

* All marathon runners received congratulatory medals for their participation.

In September 2019, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council announced the start of the countdown to the second edition of the ADNOC Marathon in December of the same year.

* The number of participants in the second edition reached more than 16,500 male and female competitors, both professionals and amateurs.

* The competitions were held in four categories, the main race over 42.2 km, alongside the 10 km, 5 km and 2.5 km races.

* The week-long marathon programme began with the opening of the sports village in the southern square of ADNOC’s headquarters four days before the event.

* The first marathon, designated for a distance of 42.2 km, started at 6:00 am in front of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) headquarters on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, and was followed by the start of the rest of the community races for varying distances.

* The second edition featured the participation of some remarkable names in long-distance running, most notably Ethiopian Askale Alemayehu, who won the 2016 Madrid Marathon title with a time of 2:33:08, and came in second place in the 2019 Hengshui Lake International Marathon in China with a time of 2:27:32, Kenyan Alex Oloitiptip Korio, who ranked third in the 2017 Copenhagen Half Marathon in Denmark with a time of 58:51 minutes, Ethiopian Negawo Asnake Dubre, champion of the 2019 Wuxi Marathon in China with a time of 2:10:21, Kenyan Caroline Kilel, champion of the 2013 Frankfurt Marathon and 2011 Boston, and the best record holder in the 2019 Hengshui Lake International Marathon, with a time of 2:35:59, Ethiopian Fikadu Haftu Tsadek, champion of the 2013 Zhong China Half Marathon, Ethiopian Jet Menday Talahun, who ranked third in the 2019 Cape Town Half Marathon in South Africa with a time of 2:28:32, Ethiopian Haimanot Alemayehu, winner of the silver medal in the 2018 Seville Marathon with a time of 2:25:51, Kenyan Joel Kemboi Kimurer, champion of the 2016 JTBC Seoul Marathon with a time of 2:08:07 and champion of the 2018 Yellow River Estuary International Marathon with a time of 2:13:28, Kenyan Lucas Rotich, champion of the 2015 Hamburg Marathon with a time of 2:07:17, and second place in the 2016 New York Marathon, Kenyan Reuben Kiprop Kipyego, who ranked second in the 2019 Buenos Aires Marathon in Argentina, Ethiopian Sintayehu Legese, who won the 2019 Lagos Marathon in Nigeria with a time of 2:17:28, Ethiopian Wude Ayalew, winner of the bronze medal in the  2009 World Championships 10,000 metres race, and Ethiopian Yeshi Kalayu Chekole.

* Reuben Kiprop Kipyego won the Men’s title, finishing first in a time of 2:04:40 hours, beating his previous best performance from that year’s Buenos Aires Marathon by 38 seconds. He was followed after one minute and 41 seconds by his compatriot Joel Kemboi Kimurer, who also broke his personal best record with a time of 2:06:21 hours.

* Kenyan Vivian Kiplagat won the Women’s title with a time of 2:21:11 hours, which was considered her best personal performance at the time. She was followed after two minutes and 52 seconds by Ethiopian Wude Ayalew, achieving a time of 2:24:03 hours, while Ethiopian Yeshi Kalayu Chekole came in third place after recording a time of 2:24:28 hours.

* Ethiopian runners Teresa Nyakola Gela and Sintayehu Tilahun won their respective races with times of 28:05 minutes and 32:47 minutes, respectively.

* Emirati champion Ayed Al Ahbabi won the Professional Wheelchair race with a time of 1:51:12 hours, followed by Hussein Al Mazem by a small margin, while Ali Al Saadi came third.

* The third edition was postponed from 2020 to December 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in order to maintain the safety of the participants.

* The Marathon was held under the slogan “Run in Abu Dhabi” and with the participation of 12,000 male and female competitors, in addition to participants from various other communities.

* The Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in partnership with ADNOC, achieved resounding success in organising the event while taking all precautionary measures to ensure the safety of all participants, organizers and volunteers.

* The marathon was held to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the UAE’s founding.

-Prize pools amounted to $300,000 across all marathons.

* The third edition’s racing agenda included the individual marathon for a distance of 42.2 km, the double marathon/relay of 42.2 km, community races for distances of 10, 5 and 2.5 km, in addition to a race designated for People of Determination via manual bicycles.

* The winners of the main marathon title in the Men’s and Women’s Elite categories each won $50,000 (AED 183,500).

* An additional prize of $30,000 was offered to anyone who broke the current major marathon record, which stood at 2:04.40 hours for men and 2:21.11 hours for women.

* Cash prizes worth $8,500 were allocated for the wheelchair category winner and US$11,000 for the 10 km race winner.

* The marathon started in front of ADNOC’s headquarters, which directly overlooks the Sheikh Zayed Monument on the Abu Dhabi Corniche. It was followed by community races for distances of 10, 5 and 2.5 km. The contestants headed through the Corniche on a path that wound around Qasr Al Hosn, one of the oldest and most beautiful historical buildings in Abu Dhabi, passing through the village heritage sites and the flagpole in the breakwater area, circling around the Marina Mall and reaching King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street towards Qasr Al Hosn again, before returning towards the finish line on the Abu Dhabi Corniche.

* Kenyan Titus Ekiru was crowned champion and the fastest runner in marathon history in the Men’s Elite category after completing the race distance of 42.2 km in 2:06:13 hours, while Tanzanian Alphonce Felix Simbu came in second, with a time of 2:07:50 hours. Third place went to Kenyan Reuben Kiprop Kipyego, with a time of 2:08:25 hours.

* Moroccan Yassir Ech Chaachoui won first place in the Men’s 10 km distance, while his compatriot Ismail El Kharchi came in second place, and Somali Mohamed Osama Mohamed finishing third.

* Ethiopian Yenenesh Desu won first place in the Women’s 10 km race, Chadia Boumahdi from France came in second, and Brit Jess Anand finished third.

* Indian Nithin Mooppil finished first in the Men’s 5 km race, with Emiratis Mohamed Alzarooni and Manea Alhammadi coming in second and third, respectively.

* The successes of the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon continued in its fourth edition, registering a record number of more than 20,000 participants in the main marathon race for a distance of 42.2 km, as well as the relay marathon and community races for distances of 10, 5 and 2.5 km.

* The Abu Dhabi Sports Council announced a new series of community races for the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon.

* The first race was held on 4 September at Yas Mall for a distance of 5 km inside the mall.

* The second race was scheduled for 8 October around Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, including 10, 5, and 3 km outdoor races.

* The third ADNOC Marathon community races were held on 5 November, just over a month before the marathon. These included a 21.1 km half marathon at the new Yas Island track, as well as 3, 5, and 10 km distances.

* 2,150 runners participated in the marathon and relay marathon, 5,630 runners in the 10 km race, 6,355 in the 5 km race, and 5,870 in the 2.5 km race.

* “We Run Together” was the slogan of for the Marathon’s fourth edition.

* The race passed many of Abu Dhabi’s main landmarks, beginning at the starting point near ADNOC, then heading to Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, reaching the vicinity of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Karama oasis, before returning to the heart of the capital, passing through Zayed Sports City and Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium at Al Jazira Club, reaching Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Tower and Qasr Al Hosn, and then heading to the final station at ADNOC headquarters.

* The fourth edition featured the participation of an elite group of international runners, including Ethiopian Adeladlew Mamo Gebreyohannes, winner of the 2022 Seville Marathon, in addition to the Kenyan duo Daniel Kibet, winner of the 2019 Istanbul Marathon, and Dickson Chumba, champion of the Tokyo Marathon in 2015 and 2018 and winner of the 2015 Chicago Marathon.

* Olympic runner Eunice Chumba, who was the 2017 Beirut Marathon champion, was also amongst the ranks of participating elite runners. She was joined by Ethiopian Mare Dibaba Hurssa, the bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and Kenyan Angela Jemesunde Tanui, winner of the 2021 Amsterdam Marathon.

* Kenyan runner Timothy Kiplagat Ronoh won the Men’s Elite title after finishing the race with a time of 2:05:20 hours, beating his compatriot Felix Kimutai by four minutes. Ethiopian Adeladlew Mamo Gebreyohannes came in third place with a time of 2:09:42 hours.

* Bahraini Eunice Chumba won the Women’s Elite title with a time of 2:20:41 hours, ahead of Kenya’s Angela Jemesunde Tanui, who came in second place with a time of 2:21:12 hours, while third place went to Ethiopian Mare Dibaba Hurssa with a time of 2:21:25 hours.

* Moroccan runners dominated the top three places in the Men’s 10 km race, with Anouar El Ghouz (29:09 minutes), Noaman Elassaoui (29:18 minutes), and Ismail El Kharchi (29:22 minutes) winning gold, silver, and bronze, respectively.

* In the Women’s 10 km race, the UK’s Eilish McColgan won gold with a time of 31:44 minutes. Australian Chloe Tighe came in second place with a time of 35:31 minutes, and Ethiopian Elshaday Wedaje Jemberu finished third with a time of 36:34 minutes.

The fifth ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon, organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and ADNOC, witnessed an unparalleled atmosphere with the participation of more than 25,000 male and female runners representing 168 countries from around the world.

- Winner of five major marathon titles, Brigid Jepchirchir Kosgei, succeeded in setting a record for the Women’s Elite category, in her first time competing in the ADNOC Marathon, after covering the distance in a time of 2:19:15 hours, beating the previous record by a full minute. She was five minutes ahead of her closest competitor, Hawi Feysa Gejia, who finished the race with a time of 2:24:03 hours, while Ethlemahu Sintayehu Dessi came third, with a time of 2:25:36 hours.

- Eritrean Amare Hailemicael Samson gave an amazing performance and finished the Men’s Elite race in a time of 2:07:10, ahead by two minutes of the second place finisher, Kenyan Leonard Barsoton, who recorded a time of 2:09:37. He finished ahead of Ilham Tanui Ozbilen from Turkey, who records a time of 2:09:37 hours.

- Ethiopian Halefom Kesfay won the Men’s 10 km race with a time of 28:27 minutes, and his compatriot Fenta Alemnat won the Women’s race with a time of 33:23 minutes.

The marathon and relay marathon attracted 2,863 participants, the 10 km race attracted 5,320, the 5 km race 7,575, and the 2.5 km race 9,280.