Record Participation at 3rd Tristar Half Marathon
The Tristar Half Marathon 2026, held on January 18 at Expo City Dubai, was a great success, drawing more than 1,600 participants across multiple race categories. Runners from 71countries took part in the event, marking it as one of the most diverse and vibrant community sport gatherings in the UAE this year.
The event featured 21km, 10km, and 5km races, along with a 3km shorter distance designed for beginners and children. The marathon attracted both passionate amateur runners as well as seasoned professionals, with the top three male and female finishers in the 21km and 10km categories receiving cash prizes.
In the men’s 21km category, Julius Kyasanku, 31, from Uganda won first place while Yosef Getahun, 26, from Ethiopia and Abdessamad El Habbaz, 29, from Morocco took the second and third places, respectively. In the women’s category, 23-year-old Ugandan Chebet Gloria took home the first prize while 42-year-old Belgian Liesbeth Verheyden won the second prize, and 43-year-old Briton Kate El Habbaz won the third prize.
Abu Salim Mayanja, 30 (Uganda), Amine Souida, 32 (Morocco) and Cedric Lefevre, 38 (France) were the first-, second- and third-place winners, respectively in the men’s 10km race. Nowel Cheruto, 19 (Uganda), Phidilia Masanju, 35 (Kenya), and Pia Hansske, 48 (Germany) won the first, second and third places, respectively in the women’s race.
The 2026 edition of the Tristar Half Marathon also distinguished itself with a family-friendly atmosphere, featuring children’s activities and Tristar’s well-known Children’s Traffic Awareness Campaign, which was showcased prominently at the venue.
Eugene Mayne, Group CEO, expressed his delight at the great turnout and energy displayed by the participants. “I am truly impressed with the enthusiasm shown by all participants this year,” he said. “We look forward to an even bigger event next year and are exploring opportunities to expand the race to other parts of the UAE.”
With its commitment to community well-being, safety, and inclusive engagement, Tristar Half Marathon continues to strengthen its place as a key fixture in the UAE’s sporting calendar.