DUBAI -- International participants are enjoying the splendour of the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve and its charm as they take part in the unique and the world’s longest desert run, the five-day and 270km Al Marmoom Ultramarathon.

The Al Marmoom Ultramarathon is being held under the umbrella of Dubai Sports Council with the support of Dubai Municipality, Dubai Ambulance Services and Dewa.

Moroccan Rachid El Mourabity is leading the pack after two days of competition with a time of 7:09:32 hours, while Frenchman Merile Robert and Iran’s Akbar Naghdiandaryan share the second spot on 7:21:58 hours, followed by Malawi’s Edson Komaba on 8:17:28 At.

American Magdalena Boulet tops the clock on the women’s side with a time of 8:20:42 hours after two days and she is followed by Ukraine’s Oksana Riabova on 9:33:48 hours, Moroccan Aziza Raji is in third place with a time of 9:39:52 hours.

The world champions participating in this race praised the opportunity to be here, and Moroccan El Mourabity said that Dubai has always been a leader in the sports arena, organizing unique events in terms of time, distance and location:

“I have prepared intensively in the last two months for this race,” he said. “I have been training in the desert area where I live in the south of Morocco, so as to get used to the conditions I was going to face here. The way of running on sand is harder than running on solid ground.”

He added: “The Al Marmoom Reserve is a really fascinating place. It is a unique site and it is rare to see this type of races held in a nature reserve of such magnitude and biodiversity.

Frenchman Robert said he had trained on the beaches of his hometown in France to get ready for the conditions he was going to face here, but he was surprised that the weather was mild and the place was very cool and very encouraging for sports.

He said: “It is an area worth exploring and to explore this area, there is no better way than through sports. Al Marmoom is an amazing place and I am sure it will attract more visitors if you continue to organise this type of sporting events here.”