When traveling to Dubai, many people are astonished by the gigantism of the city and wonder where they can get an early morning run (or not) on vacation.
At present (October 2016), it has to be said that the largest park, Al Safa Park, is not usable, as it is undergoing major construction work due to the Creek extension. The whole area is undergoing a major transformation, and I'd go so far as to say that you should avoid it if you want to play sport, as there's too much construction dust in the air.
Jumeirah beach.
My first choice would be the Jumeirah waterfront: with a 14km-long runway running from the Burj Al Arab to the Creek Canal, and perhaps a bridge to Dubai Marine (not Dubai Marina), it's the best place to run in Dubai. Especially around the Sunset Mall and Kite Beach, where you'll discover Dubai from a different angle, far from the skyscrapers and excess. What better way to start the day than by running along the beach and enjoying a sunrise over the Dubai skyline in the distance?
At the foot of the Burj Khalifa.
The world's tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, has at its base a park large enough for a morning jog. In fact, I wouldn't recommend it in the evening, as the fountains make the place quite crowded and the experience more of a walk than a run. The appeal of this early-morning spot lies in the diversity of the course, with staircases, flat stretches (in Dubai, we'd have been surprised not to!), short sections perfect for speeding up, longer ones for testing your endurance and a variety of urban atmospheres, all at the foot of the magnificent Burj Khalifa.
Bay avenue Park.
Located in the heart of the Business Bay district, this jogging track is not too busy. It's part of a very urban landscape, even if the vast park is like an oasis of greenery amidst the concrete.
Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina offers a very urban, traffic-free track. The perimeter of the artificial basin is not equipped with a track like on the jumeirah fornt de mer or in Bay Avenue Park, and the atmosphere is so surreal, like a city of the future disproportionately gigantic, that even a walk is worthwhile. To avoid the crowded areas, opt for the southern part of the Marina and get dropped off at the Dubai Marina Yatch Club. Another practical tip for this location is that, if you really want to go all the way around the basin, you have to bear in mind that at some point you'll have to run over the bridges that lead to The Walk JBR. Keep this in mind.
Palm Jumeirah
Inside Palme jumeirah, the artificial island in the shape of a palm tree, this monorail track runs along the entire trunk of the island, allowing you to jog a total distance of around 5 km. Protected from traffic, this jogging track also offers a different view of the Palm Jumeirah which, unless you live on it or have a hotel there, is still vaguely accessible.
On the perimeter of the palm, it's worth noting that at the moment (October 2016), a promenade is being finalized and should allow in the near future to run all around the palm and enjoy panoramic views of Dubai Marina and the Burj al Arab.
Running in Dubai? Yes, you can! Certainly only in winter, as summer temperatures are too high for outdoor sporting activity (I'll cover this in another article on how to keep active in Dubai if you visit the city in summer), but as we've seen, there are a variety of environments to choose from.
