Dubai Marathon - Race Reviews

I am writing to express my deep disappointment and frustration regarding the recent Dubai Marathon that took place on January 7th. While I had eagerly looked forward to participating in this event, my experience left me extremely dissatisfied, and I believe it is crucial to bring these issues to your attention for future improvements. The primary issue that marred the entire marathon was the complete lack of communication and organization at the start of the race. Runners were left in the dark as there was no announcement or clear indication of when the marathon would commence. This uncertainty resulted in a chaotic and delayed start, which ultimately affected the performance and morale of many participants, including myself. Furthermore, I was appalled by the decision to open roads to traffic a mere three hours into the race. This abrupt change in the course disrupted the flow of the marathon and prevented numerous runners, including me, from completing the race as planned. It was not only a logistical nightmare but also a safety concern. One aspect that particularly troubled me was the blatant dishonesty in stating that runners could finish on the footpath. This proved to be a bold-faced lie, as it was nearly impossible to navigate through the crowded footpaths, and it significantly hindered our progress. Such misleading information not only led to a disappointing experience but also raised concerns about the transparency of the event organizers. In light of these issues, I regretfully cannot recommend the Dubai Marathon to fellow runners or enthusiasts. The overall organization and execution of the event were extremely poor, and it failed to meet even the most basic standards of a well-organized marathon. I sincerely hope that you take this feedback seriously and use it as an opportunity to improve future editions of the Dubai Marathon. It is my belief that with better communication, enhanced organization, and honesty in event information, you can create a more enjoyable and successful experience for participants. JUST LIES.....

Dubai race organizers have ruined their race. They decided to replace a fast & flat course along the spectator-lined Jumeriah Beach coast with a race in the middle of nowhere (completely abandoned Dubai Expo City) where you run up several long, gradual grades on an 8-lane highway with ZERO spectators for 30km. The finish is better, with a fair amount of spectators, but marathoners have to weave in and out of hundreds of 4km race walkers for the last 1km since they share the same finish line. Hardly any electrolyte drinks offered, small bottles of water, and ZERO food along the course. Many other complaints as well; just a disaster of a race. Why Dubai cannot create an awesome destination-type marathon, perhaps a night race, which starts at the Marina and finishes at the Burj Khalifa is beyond me. So many runners would pay a huge premium to take part in an event like that.

I ran this marathon this past weekend for a challenge and it was boring and uninspiring. Dubai could do much better in organizing this event. The course is flat, boring and with no music and hardly people cheering you on. I'm glad I had my own music otherwise it would be a nightmare. The weather is nice to run but that's about it. During the race patrol cars from the marathon were honking you to move and constantly driving on the course. I've run in Chicago and New York and having this experience really irritated me because you lose focus and at one point a police car intervened in the course to guide a stupid woman who was allowed to drive on the course! Complete nonsense. I ran it but won't be signing up again. Save your money and run somewhere else.

Did the Dubai marathon as it is one of the few races in winter and by coincident I was in Dubai for some days anyways... The track is kind of boring as you only run on a straight line on the beach road. Not much to see on the course... However besides a bridge that needs to be crossed the course is absolutely flat. Race starts before sunrise when it's still little cooler (22C at the start in 2017). However it gets quite warm during the race with about 25C when i crossed the finish line. Adding the humidity and the strong sun (no shade along the course!) it made a quite hot race for me! The good thing is that drinks are served every 2,5k. Loved the bottled water! You will also find isotonic drinks and gels on the course. They had sponges very early in the race but when it got really hot (after 20k) they did not have any! So don't forget to keep one as it gets hot towards the end... Toilers are a problem as well. Very few in the beginning - none at the end (except 35k). Only few spectators along the course, but they still help keeping motivated when the legs get heavy. Summarizing the race it was ok for me as it fitted my training schedule. However there are many better alternatives if you don't have to race in the winter month.

What a mess this morning right after the 10k race to pickup bag at baggage area. I decided to pick it up later, and when I arrive at 2:30pm, everything was cleaned. I don't where my bag is. And no one to ask for it!

I ran the 2015 Dubai marathon last Friday Jan 23. There were some good things but overall it was my worst race experience to date. First, the good. The registration was simple and straight forward. Race pick-up was quick. Baggage drop-off was efficient. More than enough WC on the way to start area so no long queue problem. Sounds good so far? Wait!!! Now come the bad. Very poor communication. After the registration, there's absolutely NO communication from the race organizer until 5 days before the race day when I received an email telling me the time and location of the bib pick-up. And that was all the communication from the race organizer. Generally, before the race I want to know not only about the bib pick-up but also about logictics, things such as where exactly the start area, how to get there, what is the official start time. For more serious runners, they want to know exactly the kind of energy drink being offered on course and how far between water stations etc... You don't find these basic info on the website, instead, they give you a print in the race package that says 'everything you need to know abour the race' but in fact you'll find more advertising than useful stuff. The course is boring. Empty. No special landmark found along the course except the Burj Al Arab. There were a couple group of 5 people in uniform probably were paid to stay on course and cheer. I only saw some real fans toward the end of the race when I ran closer to the expat (marina) areas. Race day was a hot and sunny day but water stations are few and far in between. Runners had to take food and water offered by a local running club. Same thing happens every year, they give out water bottle (300ml) instead of paper-cup. They probably have thought that bottle would be easier for runners to carry along and drink when they need. In fact, most runners take a sip or two and ditch the whole bottle which not only is wasteful but also can become hazardous. And at the same time, they use paper-cup for energy drink?!?! Along 42km, I only saw 2 water stations that come with WC and there're only 2 porta-porties available at a time. This I couldn't understand because Dubai is quite obssesive about its fancy outside looks (buildings, streets) yet on that particular day they let thousands of runners pee on the street. All in all, I only enjoy the fact that I was running with my friends but totally dissapointed with the organizer. I think the poor organization wasn't because they didn't have experience or money but because they didn't put serious thought into it. Such a shame.

The only good things about this race are the host city and the weather. There is no expo, only a packet pickup in a tent. The start line is so disorganized we had to fight through 35,000 10k and 4k runners and scale a barricade just to get to the start line. There were very few spectators. I counted 2 potty stops with a total of 2 port-a-potties at each....for 40,000 runners. I won't tell you how incredibly full was the one I attempted to use. There were no gels or food on the course....only water and a few sport drink stands. The course was supposed to close at 6 hours, but we were at the 40k mark at 5 hours and the police drove by and forced all of us onto the sidewalk while they opened up traffic. The finish line only had water and bananas. The shirt and medal were very plain. The course was flat but incredibly boring. I really expected more from such an extravagant city.

I ran in Dubai in 2014 and 2013. The marathon is good for a first-time-runner or for someone striving to run his PB; The climate is just perfect (15 C at the start, later on around 20, and dry). Organisation and supply with drinks is also good (beside some smaller problems in the starting zone). it´s totally flat. The online-registration procedure is one the easiest one you can imagine, it doesn´t take more than one minute. And even when the delay is over, they had in 2014 last-minute registration desk....These are the pro....as for the negs i must say the course is quite monotonous and boring and even demotivating. It´s just the long coastal road (without any view on the seaside) in one direction way and back....not very hilarating. There are no special landmarks, beside the Borj Al-Arab (where it started and ended) and the Borj Khalifa which you see from far away...Beside that no special attraction which might push up your mind, when you might need as you approach the wall....nonetheless i might consider running there again next year, if i don´t find something more interesting..

The course is boring (one long out-and-back loop), but it's flat and made for the elites going for a record. Sadly, the organizers don't pay any attention to the needs of regular runners. Access to the marathon start from the bag drop area was blocked, so we had to walk through a construction site, drop and roll under the fence, and then climb through a hedge in order to get to the start. Things weren't any better at the finish. Rather than give us a lane or two of the four-lane road, they used that for the entrants in the 3k fun run and forced the marathoners onto a portion of the shoulder no more than 4-5 feet wide. It was nearly impossible to run more than two people across for the last half mile into the finish, making it hard to pass people who were just walking it in. Once across the line, we were shunted up onto the sidewalk again barely wide enough for two people to walk. No excuse for not using the wide street for the post-marathon finishing area.

It was great to get out and run, and the course itself was very flat. At the same time, it was a rather boring course (an out-and-back, so you see everything twice), and the organization was lacking. We got to the start area in plenty of time, but there was no way to get around all of the shorter-distance runners - there needed to be more maps and corralling of runners at different distances vs. spectators. I was also sad to see so much water wasted at the aid stations - instead of entire bottles, why not give a cup or two (what people will need for another 2.5 km)? It also would have been nice to have more music/bands (inc. Arab singers). Still, it was great to meet so many interesting people from so many different places - this is a good marathon to do if you're in the area - but I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to do this marathon instead of one of the bigger, more organized ones. The organizers just didn't put enough thought into the experience of the average runner in the 2014 Dubai Marathon.

It's expensive to enter. The goodie bag is minimal, the start was a disaster, we all had to climb under one fence and over another as they had blocked the signed entrance off. Most water stops were good until the 3.20 mark when they started to randomly shit them down, run out of sponges etc, taxis were let on the track at 3.37! Wizzing past runners! Very few spectators (grateful for those few). Poor crowd control with people milling on the course getting in the way. Boring route, enough Physio at the end with two tents but nothing else to do. No party atmosphere as at others. Cut off point at 6 hours is unrealistic for fun runners. Strict regs mean you can't give your ticket on if injured so friends lost out. Wouldn't bother again. Been to many others in Physio and support capacities.

This was a flat, not crowded, wide roads, fast course. Not many spectators but the ones there were very supportive. The course is a long out and back which means everyone sees the leaders. Refreshments on the course were excellent. The only minor negative point was that there was a 10k and 3 K in this general area and so getting a taxi to leave was a challenge.

I live in Dubai and this was my first ever Marathon. All in all I would recommend this as a marathon- well organized but very small/ relaxed. Super easy logistics and ideal running conditions. The course is very flat and pretty dull- a long run along beach road, turn round and back again! Not much support along with way, and a small field of 2000 runners, so can feel pretty lonely at times. A friend was biking along at times to keep us company- the organizers did not seem to have issue with this! You can see the finish point the whole way (as it is the tallest building in the world), which can be considered a good or bad thing! Super well organized (aside from instructions to find the registration location- and I am a local!) and so, so easy on race morning- a friend dropped us off 5 minutes walk from start, so a logistical dream. Temperature was perfect- maybe 20 degrees? All in all probably a good marathon to do a quick time, I got 3hr 48. I can see this growing into a bigger and bigger event over the next few years. Maybe a good excuse to visit a great city?

Dubai was my 15th marathon. Good online registration site, and very small, almost non-existent expo (2 booths). About 1500 marathon runners, but good flat course. Can turn quite warm so hydration is key. Dramatic finish at tallest building in world, Burj Kalifia but basically an 'out and back' course that is super low on spectators and low on interesting scenery. Great finisher medal and T-shirt. While small water stations, well stocked and lots of volunteers of the number of runners.

Give it another couple of years and Dubai will be the big race in the Middle East! Don't let fear of the weather hold you back: it was a cool mid-50s at the start and high 60s by late morning, beautiful running weather. Organization was great - start was on-time and there were plenty of water/aid stations throughout the 42km. Packet pick-up was in an easy to find hotel and was quick. There wasn't a big expo, but there was a local running shop there with various items that runners may have forgotten to bring or may need (Gu, hydration packs, hats/visors, etc). There weren't all that many spectators along the route, but those who did come out were extremely supportive. No annoying peppy yells, just a genuine 'good job' and smiles. No issues for female runners at all, though as Dubai is a very international city, there were some curious looks here and there of the female runners. Again, more smiles, no negativity. The course was an out-and-back and was extremely well marked. It's not the most interesting course, hence the 3-star rating, but with a few more years of races and more spectators along the route, the miles will go by. It's flat and fast, so a good option for those looking to PR. Because the route is out-and-back, you were able to see the elites in action. The purse size is huge, $250,000 in 2012, so the elites come out in good numbers. The start and finish were in Downtown Dubai near the Burj, translation - there's a lot of decent hotels within a short distance to the start/finish. Logistics were easy and hotels are a short hobble away from the finish post-race.

I read the previous concerns about the Dubai Marathon, and I sure hoped that someone was listening. To my surprise, I ran my best marathon ever and achieved a new personal best. Almost everything was perfect and we had great weather condition too! There were plenty of water stations with Gatorade; it was run on a great course, with virtually no inclines or declines; and there was a great crowd and a great set of runners too. The organizers did a great job on this one. T-shirt and medals were also great! For 2012 I recommend the following: 1. Keep 30-plus minutes between the 10K and the 42K. There was some confusion as to where the 42K runners should line up because the 10K runners were also lined up in the same starting area. 2. Add more bathrooms along the course. I suggest 5 after 2-3 K, and then put 2 every 5K. 3. Make it very clear for the slower runners that they will be running with traffic - I did hear from 5-hour (plus) runners that they did run with traffic, though it was not that bad. The slowest finish was more that 6:20, so it is good that someone was there to give you your medal and record your finish!

I have run in this race and will be running it again. It should be noted that in a lot of marathons the biggest problem is over-hydration by athletes who take on too much liquid. There was water every 2.5K and isotonic at each 5K. If you were to take everything available at every station, you would be in a serious condition medically. Take on too much water and you reduce your sodium levels and no isotonic can replace that in a short space of time. There were more than enough toilets considering the size of the field, but of course, as in most events, you will have to queue. The marshals were excellent and the police did a great job. If you want to whine and moan, you can always find something, and there are those who spend there life doing that about everything and every race. Funny how they always seem to be the slower runners. Haile Gebrselassie didn't seem to have any problem running in Dubai three times, and even came close to breaking the world record in 2008. If it's good enough for Haile, it's good enough for me.

I have been a Dubai resident since 2006 and this was my first marathon. I am not at all a runner type. Start was ok as I knew what to expect and got there in time right behind the elite runners. Running up and down Beach Road was enjoyable but the only time I saw isotonic drinks was at 5K. After 5K there was only water available for slow runners like me. Problem was that I believed in the race information, which was pointing out clearly the isotonic stations, so I took nothing with me. Luckily I got some bananas from kind spectators along the way and some other fuel that kept me going. The young organizers at the desks were all great but simply ran out of isotonic support for runners slower that 3.5-hour pace. Finish was really good (I did not expect anyone to be there anymore, except my family) but I even got the medal and cheers and plenty of water. Overall, a good experience and isotonic dilemma is easy to fix if there is goodwill for slow runners next year. Traffic was opened on the slow runners, but that is understandable, and pavements on the Beach Road are ok closer to finish. I will come back next year but will train to finish in fewer than 4 hours to avoid traffic - and I will definitely carry gels and isotonics.

I enjoyed the event; it was a bit rough in some respects, but based on the comments made on this website previously, I expected a fiasco. I had plenty of water, and plenty of folks to run with. I got my Asia marathon in, even if it was organized by Westerners. Communication between race organization and police needs to be better. I was OK in 4:42, but my friend had major traffic issues 45 minutes later. I almost went to Mumbai, and I'm glad I went to Dubai instead.

A little boring, with a poor race pack. But it's great to be out running, considering the limited options in the Middle East.

I agree with the other comments listed, and find it a bit refreshing that I was not the only one who felt that there were issues. The biggest issue was that the race was not well organized. I have no idea when the marathon actually began. There was no horn or announcement. My only notification was from the 10K runners who told me to hurry. The officials that were on the course seemed completely clueless as to how things should have been organized. Signs to the start, corrals for runners, and a true start time/horn would have been nice. There were also no official clocks on the course. At the 10K mark, I got a bit nervous when the station had run out of water. Luckily the other stations had water, but that was it... no gels/GU or Gatorade-type fluids. There was no finisher's t-shirt. The t-shirt at the packet pickup was a heavy cotton t-shirt that was sorely disappointing. I had hoped that they would have had an expo with Dubai Marathon gear, but unfortunately there was nothing.

Finished in 3.3 hours. I carry my own GU gel, which saved me. While there was lots of water provided, the organizers should never use Umbro again for isotonic drinks. Find a sponsor who can take the number of entrants and multiply it by 10 to get the minimum required number of drinks. There was no food at the finish line. Did not like the cobblestone "speed bumps" on the course, or the fact that the organizers changed the course at the last week and introduced two 90-degree turns within 400 meters of the finish line. Won't likely run Dubai again as part of my "marathon tourism."

Seems a lot of what I have to say has been said. This is a marathon that wants the publicity of having big-name elite runners, yet because it doesn't have a time cut-off, quite a few of us sign up thinking we can run without worries. This was not the case, though. This is not a race for the non-elite. They ran out of water at the 10K stop, so I ended up running with a water bottle just in case. They did have water at the remaining stops, but no sports drinks (luckily, I carry my own GU). I was told by police that the road was opening at 11:45 a.m., when all the signs clearly said 1 p.m. For those who haven't experienced Gulf drivers, it is not safe to run on the road with them on an open road. I saw one race official arguing with the police, so I hope that they didn't know they were opening early. Anyway, I was glad I was near the end, but I know that there were people behind me. At the end of the race, all I got was a bottle of water - that's it. No sports drink, no food, nothing. I didn't even see a place to return my timing chip (so I still have it). I also couldn't find the family meeting area. It was on the race map, but no one had any idea where it was. There were no race officials around to ask. I finally left without finding out if my friend was still there (he wasn't). In all, it was not my best marathon experience, but I had low expectations (due to the last-minute heatwave). I knew I'd go extra slowly, and I carried a camera to make me a true "Marathon Tourist." I always meet great people at the back of the race, so I was not disappointed in that respect. However, for $100, I would like a bit more than just new friends.

The start of the marathon was missed, as most marathon runners (blue tickets) found themselves standing at the 10K mark, due to lack of assistance from the race officials. There was no water at the 10K mark, and the sports drinks were available only up to the 5K mark. THere was nothing thereafter. The traffic was let into the running course at 10:30 a.m. The Dubai police claimed that this was cleared by the sponsors. All signs on the course confirmed that the road would be closed until 1 p.m. Running on the sidewalk, trying to dodge pedestrians, wasn't a lot of fun - not to mention a health risk.

This was the 130th marathon that I have completed. Of all the marathons I have completed, this is the only one I would recommend my fellow runners to avoid. While any race is bound to have some negative aspects, I find the organization of this race to greatly outweigh any positives of the event. I have run in races before with elite runners, but I have never before seen race directors so focused on the elites to the detriment of the non-elite runners. The main positive aspect of this race is that the course is closed to traffic and runs through some scenic sections of Dubai. This is a very flat course; however, temperatures were warm and humid, with little shade on the course. This marathon bills itself as the richest marathon in the world, due to $1,000,000 prize purse. The race directors are mainly focused on generating publicity for the elite field. There was a lot of promotion by the race directors prior to race about a world record being broken. The race organization let the non-elite runners down. There was supposed to be sports drink every 5K, according to the race guide. I only saw sports drink at two stations early in the race. If you were going to be getting sports drink for the entire race, you either had to be elite, or running around a 3-hour pace. I don't understand how a race can pay a million-dollar prize purse but can't afford to provide sports drink to the runners. I have run marathons in several countries. I have found the race support to be better in third world countries. The non-elite runners were kept about one tenth of a mile from the starting lines where the elites were. As a result, we could not hear the announcmenets. The number of elite athletes was not so large as to require such a large separation. When it was time to start, the non-elites were not allowed to move closer to the start, so you ran about a tenth of a mile to get to the start. The race is chipped timed. Let the rest of us runners up closer; as participants in the event, we would like to hear what is being said. Usually at the start of race there is some introduction of the elites and us non-elites are interested in hearing these announcements. Race organization did not return email inquiries prior to the race. My guess is that you had to be an elite athlete to get a response from them. Other issues of note: The race started at 6;30 a.m. but you were not allowed to drop off gear until 6:00 am. The number of toilets were probably not adequate. This was not an issue for me, as I had anticipated long lines and got their early. The restrooms were clean portable trailer types. Registration fee is $100 and you get very little for that amount. You got a cotton t-shirt at pickup. I was hoping for a technical shirt for that kind of race fee. The program guide said marathon finishers would receive a finisher's t-shirt. I didn't see any finisher's shirts at the finish line. Perhaps they ran out of them like they ran out of the sports drink. Not much in the way of food after the race. Not even bagels or fruit. There were some crackers and soup provided by some sponsors of the race. No food was provided by organizers themselves, but there were lots of booths set up where you could buy something to eat. I did manage to get some sports drink at the finish line, but it was too little, too late. The elites did not break the world record and I came pretty close to a personal worst time. I would recommend visiting Dubai for a vacation, but the marathon support is not good for the non-elite athletes.

There was no proper announcement for the start of the marathon. Realized after 10 minutes that the marathon has started because everyone around was waiting for the 10K start. Too bad that the organizers could not arrange enough drinks. I was running my first marathon and was in the last quarter of the runners. Just got a quarter-glass of isotonic drink in one station. Luckily I had some money to buy drinks from the petrol stations, but then wasted time in that. That and the Coke, chocolates, bananas and jelly beans from the spectators kept me going. :)

This was a first for me, having lived in Dubai for 4 years. The start had two sets of toilets, which made for long queues for the gents. There was no countdown and no order to the start; it was just everyone bunched up together. One problem was there were isotonic drinks up until 20K, but after that, we were told that they had run out, as they only had a limited stock!!!! So there was only water the rest of the way - bad organization. Thank god for the fans buying Coke, jelly beans, Haribo and bananas for us all or we would not have made it. It was a boring course, straight up and down. Most were serious runners aiming for the quickest time; there was no fundraising and no fancy dress. A nice run, but not fun! And a shame about the energy drinks!

This race is spectacular. If you want to sight-see, do so; just don't use a marathon as your venue.

This was my first race, but I've attended many. The course is straight up and straight back, which is a little boring. Fans are fantastic and dispersed well throughout. Water was not an issue at all. Weather was absolutely perfect (cool and cloudy, even with a light rain). The lack of toilets leaves some runners to get creative at times.

This was my first marathon. Bearing that in mind, I thought that in general the organization was okay. There were plenty of water/isotonic stations with enthusiastic attendants. We nearly missed the start at there was no countdown or announcement. The medal was presented right after the finish line, and drinks/sandwiches were right there too.

January 2008 -Although I participated in the 10K, I also witnessed the other two races. -At the start line there was only ONE line for the male bathroom and ONE line for females. Additionally, there were NO toilets or porta-potties available throughout the entire 10K course. -Very little crowd support. Although the route was flat, it was a semi-scenic loop with little people cheering you on, probably because not many locals seemed to know about the races (mostly people from other countries, like me). -When I crossed the finish line, people clamored towards boxes to grab finisher's medals wrapped in thin plastic... only marathoners were properly presented with medals as they crossed the finish line. Additionally, because people grabbed handfuls of 10K medals, I did not receive a medal. I was told one would be sent to me; however, 2 months after the race, I have not received one, and emails that were readily answered before the race now go unanswered. Go next year if you like, but don't say I didn't warn you!!! C. Barnes Atlanta, GA

I would like to say HI and THANK YOU to all the people who organized and participated in this race! I have read all the comments, and competing for the first time in a marathon, I have to say that the effort of the organizers was very big. I agree that is a bit difficult for the guys finishing over 4 hours, but despite this, I have seen with my own eyes the last competitor on the race, backed up by a police car, and behind, a huge line of cars waiting! I consider it a very professional, organized race, with high-profiled competitors from all over the world, and I recommend it to any marathon runner who wants to see Dubai as well. On the track, we could find water, Gatorade, chocolate, fruits, encouraging staff... and toilets. Now, if anyone expects a meal after the race, that is a bit too much.... Well done, guys! I'll be back next year! It is the only competition of this kind in the Emirates that deserves attention, especially in comparison with Abu Dhabi's marathon. That was a big joke, my friends!

Addendum to my race comments: B.B. from Qatar stated that "marathon runners near the front had to push their way through the 10K cattle drive." That is not possible. The marathon started at 7:30 a.m., and the 10K started at 10:30 a.m. The rest of his comments might be correct (although it is not what I experienced) but that statement was clearly wrong. I just wanted to set the record straight.

I had read unfavorable comments about this race in previous years, but this year's race was very well done. I had trouble finding the toilets and bag drop before the start, but once the race started and along the course the water and sports drink support was fine, at least for someone finishing in just under 4 hours. Spectators were few (mostly Ethiopians there to cheer Haile Gebrselassie) but loud, and it's a nice, flat, scenic course - plus the weather was almost ideal. It was a treat to see Geb passing on the course. The medal is a nice, heavy bronze medallion. All in all, a great experience.

I'm glad I did the 10K before considering whether to come back for the marathon. Bib and chip pickup was a good indicator of the rest of the race - no vendors or exhibits, and wrong t-shirt size from online registration. The elite runners rightfully had an escort to provide passage through the 10K runners, but the rest of the marathon runners near the front had to push their way through the 10K cattle drive. The 10K runners deal with the same calamity with the start of the 4K fun run. I noticed that many runners were not receiving their medal after completing the marathon and 10K; what's up with that? All race fiascos aside, Dubai is an EXCELLENT city to visit.

This was my 3rd Dubai Marathon, and I felt for sure this time the organizers would get things right. And they almost did. All the later marathon finishers had to run down a narrow chute to finish, which in my case had people standing in it. Let there by a security guy. No water at the finish for the marathon either; lots of empty boxes, but no water. What were they thinking? People after me did not get medals. They said they ran out. Good, flat course; however, that is where the compliments end.

Hi everyone, This was my first marathon race, but even if I don't have the experience I would like to add some comments. I think that this was a race for the media and professionals not for the people of Dubai. I was surprised that the officials could not make sure that we get fruits or some chocolate bars throughout the race. Thanks a lot to the ladies on Jumeirah Beach Road; they ran into their kitchen and started cutting oranges and bananas and gave them to everybody. ;) Maybe this could be prepared for next year. I know that other cities offer this to their runners. Dubai could copy a lot of activities around the marathon from cities such a Berlin, Paris, or London.