The UAE — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah — remains one of the safest destinations in the world for international travellers and runners. The country is geographically and politically separate from the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen. All major 2026 UAE marathons including the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon and Ajman Half Marathon are proceeding as scheduled. Always check your government’s official travel advisory before booking, but the UAE itself has not seen any security disruption to sporting events.

The Beirut International Marathon is currently listed for 8 November 2026. Lebanon experienced significant conflict in late 2024 and early 2025, but the Beirut Marathon Association has confirmed plans for the 2026 edition. Registration has not opened yet. We strongly recommend monitoring the official Beirut Marathon website and your government’s Lebanon travel advisory before committing to travel. This page will be updated as more information becomes available.

Yes. Saudi Arabia launched its tourist e-visa in 2019 and Indian passport holders are eligible to apply online. For major events like the Riyadh Marathon, organisers typically provide visa support letters for registered runners. Women can freely participate — Saudi Arabia has actively opened its major running events to female participants and international runners of all backgrounds since 2018. Always verify the current visa rules at the official Saudi e-visa portal before registering for any race.

Indian passport holders require a visa to enter the UAE. The good news is that a UAE tourist visa is easy to obtain online through the ICA Smart Services portal or via airlines like Emirates and Air India. A 30-day single-entry visa typically costs around AED 300–400 (approximately ₹7,000–9,500). Many Indian runners also hold UAE residency visas, making entry seamless. Apply at least 2–3 weeks before your race date to allow processing time.

The Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon (February) is widely considered the fastest half marathon in the world, regularly producing course records and world-class times on its flat corniche route. For the full marathon, the Dubai Marathon (January) is the UAE’s gold standard — flat course, cool January weather, elite international field and world-class organisation. Both races are held in January–February when temperatures in the Gulf are at their most runner-friendly, typically 15–22°C at race start.

January and February are the peak months for running in the UAE and Gulf region. Temperatures typically sit between 14–22°C at race start time — cool enough for strong performances. By April, temperatures climb past 30°C and full marathon racing becomes very challenging. The season effectively runs from October (early warm-up races) through February (peak race season) and then closes until the following autumn. If you are travelling from India specifically for a UAE race, January is the ideal window to target.

Jordan is considered one of the most stable and runner-friendly countries in the Middle East and has continued to host all its major events without interruption. The country shares a border with Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, but tourist areas including Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea have not been affected by the conflict. Multiple governments including India maintain active travel advisories for the region — check the MEA’s advisory before finalising any travel plans to Jordan.

Both races accept international registrations directly through their official websites — dubaimarathon.org and adnocabudhabimarathon.com. Payment is accepted via international credit and debit cards. Entry fees are typically USD 50–100 for the full marathon. Registrations for major UAE races open 6–9 months before race day, and popular categories like the Dubai Marathon full distance sell out quickly. Set a reminder for when registration opens and register as early as possible for the best pricing.