The year round sunshine in Dubai makes it a very attractive environment for outdoor activities. It is also a very active city with lots of gym options and lots of sporting activities. For jogging enthusiasts there are many routes which are hard to match in other cities. Let’s run through our top five:
Dubai Marina Walk
For those who love large skyscrapers and lots of activity, this will be the perfect route for you. At any time of day there is a lot of action taking place in the marina with lots of things to look at during the run – it’s probably the least repetitive route as the atmosphere is always changing.
Palm Jumeirah Crescent
Photo from: Dubizzle
Somewhat of a hidden resource. The crescent of the Palm Jumeirah is lined with a boardwalk that runs roughly 10km from one side to the other. Except for the area around the Atlantis hotel, it is usually very quiet and the views either side are incredible. On the East side you have stunning views of the Burj Al Arab and the full Downtown skyline on a clear day; and on the West side you have the full Dubai Marina skyline. Both sides have the incredible backdrop of endless ocean.
Downtown Boulevard
The ring road that encircles the Downtown Dubai area is a great location for taking in the sights. It is not a designated running track, but the sidewalk offers plenty of space so you are not dodging pedestrians as you run. This location was previously the site of the Dubai Marathon due to its incredible backdrop.
Business Bay Canal
This is a recent addition with the construction of the canal that flows through Business Bay. We see this as being similar to the Dubai Marina Walk, but a lot less busy and a lot more straight.
Palm Jumeirah Golden Mile
Photo from: Property Watch
Some of you may prefer a structured comfortable running surface with track markings to keep a record of distances run. If so, the Golden Mile Running track is the place for you. Whilst the route is someone monotonous and the views are not as impressive as our other choices, the track is cushioned and extremely comfortable. A full circle is roughly 2.5km which is great for those measuring distance.
When you’re running, there’s a little person that talks to you and says ‘Oh I’m tired. My lung’s about to pop. I’m so hurt. There’s no way I can possibly continue.’ You want to quit. If you learn how to defeat that person when you’re running, you will learn how to not quit when things get hard in your life.
OUR TOP PICK
Kennedy Towers originated with its base of properties on the Palm Jumeirah – so perhaps we’re slightly biased – but our top pick has to go to the Palm Jumeirah Crescent. This is because we consider it to be an untapped resource which not many people know about. It combines skyline and ocean views better than any other running track on this list and has lots of open space.