Hudayriyat Island is a great new addition to the running scene in Abu Dhabi. The 3,000 hectare island, opened in 2024, is a leisure and entertainment district connected to Abu Dhabi by the Hudayriyat Bridge. The island features several km of beach, waterfront promenades, football fields, running tracks, indoor and outdoor basketball and tennis courts, bike parks, cycling tracks, skate parks, an obstacle course and watersports.
For running, there’s a pedestrian path along the water called the Heritage Trail, on the southern end of the island. It runs along the water between Marsana Beach, and Bab Al Nojoum, making for a 5.5 km out & back. The surface is a paved boardwalk at the Marsana end, becoming loose shale headed west. There are views of the water a good part of the way.
There’s also a terrific running track at 321 Sports in the Bab Al Nojoum area.
It is also possible to run along the 16 km of beach ringing the island, but note that sand conditions can vary.
Notes: The paths are open & exposed — not a lot of shade, so use caution in the hear. Bonus: lit at night. Also, it might be tempting to run on the 15 km of cycle tracks on Hudayriyat Island, but it is generally not permitted.
Hudayriyat Island is a great new addition to the running scene in Abu Dhabi. The 3,000 hectare island, opened in 2024, is a leisure and entertainment district connected to Abu Dhabi by the Hudayriyat Bridge. The island features several km of beach, waterfront promenades, football fields, running tracks, indoor and outdoor basketball and tennis courts, bike parks, cycling tracks, skate parks, an obstacle course and watersports.
For running, there’s a pedestrian path along the water called the Heritage Trail, on the southern end of the island. It runs along the water between Marsana Beach, and Bab Al Nojoum, making for a 5.5 km out & back. The surface is a paved boardwalk at the Marsana end, becoming loose shale headed west. There are views of the water a good part of the way.
There’s also a terrific running track at 321 Sports in the Bab Al Nojoum area.
It is also possible to run along the 16 km of beach ringing the island, but note that sand conditions can vary.
Notes: The paths are open & exposed — not a lot of shade, so use caution in the hear. Bonus: lit at night. Also, it might be tempting to run on the 15 km of cycle tracks on Hudayriyat Island, but it is generally not permitted.
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