If your group chat is arguing about where to meet on the weekend, pick a plan that actually feels good to follow through on, because on November 29, the Zayed Charity Run gives you 3 km, 5 km or 10 km between Wahat Al Karama and Erth Abu Dhabi, plus community villages that make the post-run hang more fun.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, the Abu Dhabi edition welcomes participants of all ages and fitness levels across three distances and adds entertainment, activities and F&B offerings for families and friends. It is the third stop of the 2025–2026 season after Beijing and Rio, with the simple ask of showing up, moving together, and in turn, being able to support health-driven research.
Renowned worldwide as “the run for kindness,” the event pays tribute to the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, promoting compassion, generosity and unity. “The Zayed Charity Run is not just a sporting event, but a deep tribute to the eternal values instilled by the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, reflecting his enduring legacy of generosity, compassion, and humanity,” says Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Mohamed Helal Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee.
This year’s Abu Dhabi edition will dedicate its proceeds to three groundbreaking programmes at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center (ADSCC), advancing personalised cancer therapy through Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs), developing a Bioinformatics and AI platform for precision medicine targeting multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes, and supporting the Perinatal Project, which transforms donated placental tissue into treatments for skin care and wound healing.
“Through innovative approaches, we are advancing personalised cancer therapies and creating new treatments for autoimmune diseases and conditions that currently have no cure,” says Prof. Yendry Ventura, ADSCC CEO, noting that the run’s support reinforces the centre’s human-focused mission.
Since its launch in 2001 under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Zayed Charity Run has grown into a global initiative that unites cities from New York to Cairo, Beijing to Budapest. This year marks its largest season yet, continuing through Cairo in December, Miami in January, and Budapest in May 2026.
Supported by Emirates Red Crescent, Al Habtoor Group, and NORINCO, the run underscores the UAE’s ongoing commitment to health, innovation and philanthropy. As Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, notes, it stands as “as a symbol of civilization that embodies the vision and values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace. It reflects his legacy of giving and humanitarian work, an eternal heritage that continues to inspire generations.”
Registration is open here.