Taking place on Sunday, 25 October 2026, the purpose-driven community run promotes healthy lifestyles while protecting the endangered Arabian Sand Cat
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 28 September 2026: Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, is inviting the community to take part in Run for Impact: Saving the Arabian Sand Cat, on Sunday, 25 October 2026, at Yas Bay Waterfront on Yas Island.
Held in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Al Ain Zoo, EllisDon, and ZUBLIN Construction LLC, the event reflects a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. It supports efforts to protect the Arabian Sand Cat in Abu Dhabi’s deserts, a key initiative under the Conservation pillar of IMPACT by Miral, its strategic platform for funding and delivering meaningful social and environmental impact across Abu Dhabi.
The Run for Impact community event aims to promote active, healthy lifestyles, while raising awareness of the UAE’s wildlife and biodiversity conservation. Through a registration fee of AED 50, runners and participants will contribute directly to IMPACT by Miral. Their contributions will go towards research and conservation initiatives to safeguard the Arabian Sand Cat, one of the region’s most elusive desert animals and listed as endangered on the Abu Dhabi Red List of Species.
Open to all ages and fitness levels, the event offers participants a choice of 3km, 5km, and 10km race distances. The 10km race sets off at 6:45 am, followed by the 5km at 7:00 am and the 3km at 7:15 am, giving everyone the chance to join at a pace and distance that suits them.
Participants can also enjoy a variety of fun and interactive activities hosted by Al Ain Zoo from 6:00 am – 10:00 am. Designed to raise awareness of the Arabian Sand Cats, the family-friendly experiences include themed face painting, photo opportunities, and educational trivia challenges with exciting prizes.
Exclusive event merchandise will also be available, offering participants additional ways to support the cause and take home a meaningful reminder of their contribution to wildlife conservation. The community event will conclude with an awards ceremony, with winners receiving theme park tickets.
Event Details:
- Location: Yas Bay Waterfront
- Event Date: Sunday, 25 October 2026
- Start Times: activities from 6:00 am onwards; Run starts at 6:45 am
- Awards Ceremony: 9:00 am
- Race Bib Collection: Sunday, 25 October 2026 from 5:30 am
Registration for this event is mandatory.
- Registration Fee: AED 50 (proceeds directly fund Arabian Sand Cat research and conservation initiatives under IMPACT by Miral)
- Registration Link: https://in.abudhabimarathon.events/run-for-impact?currentPage=select-competition
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NOTES TO THE EDITOR:
Launched in partnership with the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an in late 2025, IMPACT by Miral serves as a catalyst for responsible growth, built on four pillars: Conservation, Arts & Culture, Health & Wellbeing, and Education & Skills Development. The Fund is governed by the Steering Committee and Advisory Working Group, ensuring transparency, oversight and alignment with Abu Dhabi’s environmental and social priorities.
Protecting the Arabian Sand Cat in Abu Dhabi’s deserts is one of four key initiatives under the Conservation pillar of IMPACT by Miral. To safeguard the species’ future, this terrestrial initiative combines environmental DNA analysis, GPS tracking, camera traps, and AI-enabled data analysis to track the species and close critical knowledge gaps.
About Miral:
Miral is the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, that contributes to the growth of the leisure and entertainment industry and Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification. It conceives, creates, operates, and manages immersive destinations and experiences that attract visitors from across the world to create unforgettable memories, accelerating the realisation of the Emirate’s tourism vision and growth.
Responsible for the development and destination management of Yas Island and overseeing Saadiyat Island’s Destination Management Strategy, Miral’s portfolio of world-class assets incorporates entertainment, leisure, culture, sport, dining, retail, and hospitality experiences, aiming to deliver millions of memorable moments for residents and international guests alike. These include Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (now includes 70+ rides and experiences following its expansion); Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; CLYMB™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi; Yas Marina; and Yas Bay Waterfront, home to the UAE’s largest indoor multi-purpose venue Etihad Arena, amongst others. Miral also has several projects being developed on Yas Island and across the emirate, including Harry Potter-themed lands within Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, and a Disney Theme Park Resort.
Miral encompasses three subsidiaries: Miral Destinations, which promotes unique destinations; Miral Experiences, which operates a diverse portfolio of world-class, award-winning immersive experiences; and Yas Asset Management, which operates and manages a portfolio of vibrant destinations including F&B, retail, marinas, and hospitality properties across Yas Island.
For more information, visit www.miral.ae
