Dubai Airports has brought the Dubai Mallathon fitness initiative to Dubai International (DXB) for the first time, turning part of Terminal 3 into an indoor walking track.
The first session was held at Terminal 3 Departures and included Dubai Airports employees, members of the wider oneDXB community and People of Determination.
The initiative was launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
First airport session
Two morning indoor walks were held as part of the first Dubai Mallathon session at DXB.
Dubai Airports said the programme supports employee wellbeing and provides an opportunity for the airport community to take part in physical activity together.
Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Airports, said: “We’re proud to host The Dubai Mallathon* *in its second edition here at DXB. This is an initiative we can all get behind because it encourages people to be part of something that’s more than just exercise. This is a community-driven movement that fits around shifts, work locations, and daily routines and where small steps make a big impact. DXB is the perfect location for indoor walks because airports are places of movement by nature, and this initiative gives our employees and oneDXB community another way to come together, stay active and support Dubai’s wider wellbeing ambitions.”
Mallathon expands
Demaithan Al Qamzi, General Coordinator of Dubai Mallathon, said hosting activities at Dubai International Airport extends the initiative to airport employees, the wider airport community and travellers.
Al Qamzi said the event has developed beyond a traditional sporting initiative into a community activity that brings physical exercise into workplaces and people’s daily routines.
Further sessions will be held at locations across Terminal 3 every Friday throughout August. The walks will bring together airport employees, community partners and members of the public.
The final session, on August 28, will mark Emirati Women’s Day, with oneDXB community members invited to join the walk and recognise the contributions of Emirati women across the organisation and aviation sector.
Dubai Mallathon 2026
Dubai Mallathon runs across participating malls in Dubai until September 15. DXB is the first non-mall venue to host the initiative.
The programme turns Dubai malls into air-conditioned walking and running tracks during the summer. The 2025 edition attracted more than 40,000 participants and recorded over 120 million steps across participating malls. It also received a Guinness World Records title for the Most Runners in a Mall Run Event. The initiative forms part of Dubai’s wider efforts to promote physical activity and healthier communities under the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
