The Zayed Charity Race and China Wall Marathon is set to welcome 15,000 participants, including 50 Emirati runners, in an event that blends sport with humanitarian work and strengthens ties between peoples. The return reflects the success of the previous edition and reinforces the race’s presence in China, continuing its global mission of giving and community service.
The event is organized by the People’s Government of Huairou District in Beijing Municipality, the Beijing Athletics Association, and the district’s Sports Bureau, in partnership with the Zayed Charity Race. It is supported by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Beijing, along with sponsorship from several leading Emirati companies, including ADNOC, Liwa, Mubadala, and Edge.
Race Categories and Classification
The program includes a full marathon of 42 kilometers and a half marathon of 21 kilometers, within a race classified as A1 by the Chinese Athletics Association.
Organizers Highlight Growing International Trust
Major General (Ret.) Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Zayed Charity Race, affirmed that returning to Beijing for the second year reflects the success of the previous edition and the growing confidence in the race as an international platform that combines sport and humanitarian values.
He said: “We return to Beijing with our preparations complete for a new edition, with 15,000 participants, including 50 Emirati runners, in a scene that embodies the power of sport to bring people together around a goal that goes beyond competition. Through this edition, we continue to build on the success achieved last year, while the Zayed Charity Race carries in every stop the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, and his enduring values of extending a helping hand and serving humanity, so that giving remains an integral part of its message in every race.”
He added: “We are proud of the growing partnership with our partners and organizing bodies in China, and the close cooperation that has contributed to the race’s return for the second consecutive year. We look forward to the 2026 edition continuing to consolidate the Zayed Charity Race’s presence as a global platform that brings peoples together through sport, giving, and humanitarian work. We also extend our thanks to the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Beijing for its continuous support and its role in enhancing cooperation and coordination between the Emirati and Chinese sides, contributing to the success of this initiative.”
Humanitarian Impact: 50% of Proceeds to Huairou Hospital
This year, the event reinforces its humanitarian message by allocating 50 percent of the race proceeds to support Huairou Hospital, a step that embodies the initiative’s commitment to creating a tangible community impact and transforming the values of giving into direct support for the community. This reflects the approach on which the Zayed Charity Race was founded since its launch, based on turning passion for sport into a force for giving and employing international partnerships in the service of humanity.
A Message That Crosses Borders
As runners set off on one of the world’s most prominent historical landmarks, the Emirati participation, alongside thousands of participants from China and various countries, carries a clear message that Sheikh Zayed’s legacy of goodness and giving is capable of crossing borders, reaching hearts, and creating an impact that remains long after the race ends.