A new route has been unveiled for the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon ahead of race day on Friday, January 26.

Thousands of runners are set to tackle the gruelling 42.195km distance in ten days’ time with organisers tweaking the traditional route.

This year, runners will do two laps of Jumeirah Beach Road – from Jumeirah Beach Hotel to Jumeirah Beach Park (u-turning at Al Mehemal junction just before the bridge) – before heading back down to the finish line at Dubai Police Academy.

In previous years, runners would run beyond the bridge and u-turn at the Union Flag before heading back.

As ever, the marathon starts on Umm Suqeim Road at the Madinat Jumeirah but at 7am this time – instead of the usual 6.30am kick-off.

Runners start off by taking a left onto Al Sufouh, running past Dubai College Junction and the entrance to the Palm Jumeirah before u-turning at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi traffic lights and completing the rest of the course.