According to organisers, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is preparing to stage the latest edition of its ladies-only run on Saturday, August 30, as part of national observances for Emirati Women’s Day. The event invites women and girls of all ages and abilities to take part in one of three race categories tailored to different fitness levels. A 10km option will challenge experienced runners with four laps through the park and adjacent areas while a 5km distance offers two laps for recreational participants and a 2.5km route suits beginners and walkers with a single lap.
The occasion aligns with Emirati Women’s Day, observed each year on August 28 to honour the establishment of the General Women’s Union in 1975 under the leadership of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, according to official records from the union. Last year’s running event drew more than 500 participants and carried the theme “Hand in Hand, Celebrating the 50th” to mark five decades of the union’s work, a report from Al Bawaba stated. This year’s gathering continues that focus on empowerment, fitness and community participation.
Organisers have specified that all operational staff and volunteers inside Ferrari World will be women to create a fully comfortable and private atmosphere for attendees, event details indicate. Parts of the course that pass through Yas Mall will remain accessible to the public as those sections cannot be closed off, the organisers noted. Participants will collect a custom-designed event T-shirt with their race pack and receive a commemorative finisher medal upon completion.
Emirates News Agency reported that parallel activities are taking place across the country to mark the day, including the Dubai Sports Council initiative known as Dubai Mallathon, which features safe indoor walking and running routes at multiple shopping destinations. That programme operates under the patronage of senior officials and encourages involvement from women of all nationalities regardless of fitness background. Such coordinated events underscore the national emphasis on promoting physical activity alongside recognition of women’s contributions.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2010 as the first theme park branded by the Italian automaker, features the world’s fastest roller coaster in Formula Rossa and maintains a largely indoor layout that provides a controlled environment even during the hot summer months, park information shows. The choice of venue for the run allows participants to engage in the activity without exposure to extreme temperatures. Tickets for the event start at AED 85 with further details available through official channels.
The broader series of celebrations this year reflects ongoing efforts to highlight women’s roles in UAE development since the union’s founding more than five decades ago, according to statements from involved authorities. Similar ladies-only sporting activities have grown in popularity as part of these annual observances, building on prior editions that received positive community feedback. The run at Ferrari World adds a leisure dimension to the national calendar of events dedicated to the occasion.
