The Emirates News Agency reported that 50 Emirati runners carried the message of giving to Beijing as they joined an international marathon event. According to organizers the event drew nearly 17,000 participants from 26 countries making it one of the largest sporting gatherings in the country that year. A 135-member UAE delegation took part with the runners specifically tasked with conveying their nation’s commitment to philanthropy. This initiative paid tribute to the legacy of the UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan by linking athletic endeavor with charitable causes.
The program included a range of races from 5 kilometres to a full marathon along with cultural activities. Al Bait Al Emarati the Emirati House pavilion at the Mutianyu Great Wall welcomed approximately 10,000 visitors each day to engage with UAE heritage through food performances and crafts the embassy reported. Donations generated from participant registrations supported four local charities in the Huairou District.
UAE Ambassador to China Hussain Al Hammadi pointed to the event’s success in fostering bilateral relations. He said the combination of sport and culture reflected the UAE’s holistic humanitarian vision. The ambassador added that such activities open new horizons for cooperation between the two nations.
Chairman of the Zayed Charity Run Lieutenant General Mohamed Helal Al Kaabi said the Beijing edition realized the run’s humanitarian mission. “This event is more than just a race; it is a message of friendship and cooperation, and a celebration of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the United Arab Emirates and the People’s Republic of China — built on mutual trust, cultural exchange, innovation, and a shared spirit of humanitarian giving. Let us run together… for health, for friendship, and for the power of giving that unites hearts across distances and borders.” Al Kaabi noted that the run has supported health and humanitarian initiatives worldwide since its establishment in 2001.
Participants from the UAE expressed pride in their role. Talib Al Salami captain of the Abu Dhabi Running Team told Xinhua that taking part in the Zayed Charity Run is a source of national pride. “It combines athletic performance with charitable work and highlights the UAE’s presence on the humanitarian and sports fronts” he said.
The successful staging of the event in Beijing underscores the growing sports and cultural partnership between the UAE and China. Organizers plan to take the Zayed Charity Run to additional countries in the upcoming season. This expansion aims to further promote the values of giving and tolerance on a global scale.
