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Dubai Airport's invite-only mallathon builds community, says top official
Dubai's invite-only mallathon at DXB has drawn hundreds of walkers since the first session; final session on Emirati Women's Day
- PUBLISHED: Sat 22 Aug 2026, 1:53 PM
The response for the emirate’s invite-only mallathons being held at the Dubai International airport (DXB) has been extremely positive, according to a top official. Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Airports said that the initiative created opportunities for people to form connections.
"Seeing more than 500 colleagues, partners from across the oneDXB community and invited guests come together for the inaugural walk shows just how much people value opportunities to step away from their daily routines," he told Khaleej Times.
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The Dubai Mallathon at DXB has been held for three Fridays so far, with walks taking place at key locations across Terminal 3. The final session will be held next Friday, September 4, and will pay homage to Emirati Women's Day.
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"I am especially looking forward to our Emirati Women's Day walk on August 28, which will celebrate the remarkable contributions of Emirati women across our airport community while bringing people together around a shared purpose," he said.
First non-mall venue
Dubai mallathon is an initiative launched by Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to encourage residents and visitors to stay active throughout the summer. Six malls across the emirate turned into jogging tracks for hundreds of residents every morning for the entire summer and will continue to do so until September 15. Dubai Airports is the first non-mall venue to host the event.
The walks are invite-only, with participants including Dubai Airports employees, members of the wider oneDXB community and People of Determination. Majed said the initiative reflects Dubai Airports' commitment to supporting employee wellbeing while reimagining what an airport can offer beyond its core function.
"Airports are built around movement, so bringing Dubai Mallathon to DXB felt like a natural extension of what we do every day," he said.
More than exercise
For Majed, the walks are about more than just exercise. They create opportunities for people from different teams and organisations to connect outside their day-to-day roles.
"At an airport, people from different organisations, cultures and professions work side by side every day, but opportunities to come together outside of their day-to-day roles are just as important," he said.
"Initiatives like this create those moments, encouraging conversations, new connections and stronger relationships across our oneDXB community."
The initiative also aligns with Dubai's Quality of Life Strategy 2033, which aims to build healthier, more connected communities.
Hundreds of participants have already taken part in the DXB walks, with stations offering refreshments along the track. "When we invest in their wellbeing and create opportunities to connect, we build a stronger, healthier and more connected airport community," Majed said.
