Dubai will transform into a hub of competition and physical activity over the weekend with as many as 13 diverse competitive and community sporting events being lined up throughout the city.

Organised in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council, these events will take place across various areas of the Emirate, and are expected to draw wide participation from all segments of society.

Centre-stage for Expo City Half Marathon

The Expo City Dubai Half Marathon will stand out as the weekend’s highlight, attracting more than 1,400 runners aged 16 years and above. The race, to be held on April 19 (Sunday), will pass through iconic Expo City landmarks and features a variety of distances, including 5km, 10km, 15km and 21km, to suit all fitness levels. The race will be flagged off at 7.15 am.

Competitions to continue

The Dubai Summer Open Football Academies Championship - the largest tournament of its kind in the region – will also continue with a record participation of over 12,000 players representing 508 teams from various government and private academies and clubs.

The tournament is organised by the Dubai Sports Council and the UAE Football Association in cooperation with Delta Sports Events, the tournament’s operational partner. This event aims to bolster the Council’s efforts in attracting and developing emerging sporting talent, implementing its policy launched in line with the directives of the Dubai Government to attract and develop talent across all disciplines.

Dubai Polo Cup resumes

The Dubai Polo Cup, held at the Al Habtoor Polo and Equestrian Club until April 18, will also conclude this weekend. This tournament will have a handicap of an Intermediate level (6-8 goals) competition.

Among the most prominent teams consistently competing in this series at this level are Team Al Habtoor - the team that recently won the Masters Cup (on April 11); Team Emirates, led by Her Highness Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Team Dubai Wolves, led by Habtoor Al Habtoor; Team Bangash, led by Haider Bangash; and Team Jahangiri, led by Saad or Mohammed Jahangiri.

Also in the mix is the Al Habtoor Show Jumping Championship that is scheduled to take place on April 17 (Friday) at the Al Habtoor Polo and Equestrian Club. A key event on Dubai’s equestrian calendar, the championship features a diverse range of categories, from novices competing over obstacles between 40 and 85 centimetres to professionals vying for jumps between 120 and 140 centimetres. More than 150 riders from various equestrian clubs across the UAE have already confirmed their participation.

The next big event to be held this weekend is the ‘Best in the Ring’ Boxing Championship at the B7 Arena. This highly-anticipated boxing event to be held in Dubai will be held on April 18, and it boasts a packed programme of 12 amateur bouts alongside major professional fights.

The highlights on the night include a bout between Ziad Wael and Guy Gifter and a match between Bahraini champion Yusuf Ali and boxer Davis Ariho, while the amateur heavyweight bout features a highly-anticipated showdown between Aaron Darby and Nikita Samurai. The list of prominent names from the boxing world also includes Nabil Choudhary, Khaws, Yuri Gonçalves, Dylan Van Kalk and Hamza Abdel Salam.

Pullman Run

The Pullman Run will start in front of the Pullman Downtown Hotel and follow a scenic and tranquil route along the Dubai Water Canal. The 5km and 10km races are designed to suit various fitness levels and are organised by RaceMe.

The Beirut International Open Rhythmic Gymnastics Challenge will be held at the Saeed Bin Maktoum Hall in Al Mamzar from April 17-19. Children and young athletes aged 5 to 18 years will be seen in action as per the standards set by World Gymnastics (formerly the International Gymnastics Federation).

Hamilton Swimming

Meanwhile, the Hamdan Sports Complex will play host to the Hamilton Aquatics Swimming Championships on April 18 and 19. More than 400 male and female swimmers are expected to compete in the 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17-year-old categories, participating in the 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m races in Freestyle and Butterfly.

Also taking place are the GTO Fitness Championship at the Emirates Sports Hotel, the Enduro Cross Motorcycle Championship at MixRide Academy, and the Art Run at Expo City Dubai, featuring three distances of 2.5, 5, and 10 kms.

The race will pass through interactive art stations and displays by international artists, transforming it into an artistic journey and part of a creative masterpiece. The Dubai Karting Endurance Race will also be held at the Dubai Autodrome, while the FCS Fightgecko Combat Series Boxing will take place at La Perle in Al Habtoor City making this a truly memorable sporting weekend for the entire emirate of Dubai.