If you’ve ever wanted to race in Abu Dhabi without the 5am start and the brutal sun, this is your series. The Beyond the Sunset Series is Hudayriyat Island’s annual evening race calendar – four events across four weekends each May and June, all starting after the worst of the heat has passed, all built around the same idea: cooler air, coastal views, and the kind of finish line that comes with a sunset instead of a 7am espresso.
The format is the same each year – one Saturday for each discipline, in this order: Run, Swim, Skate, Ride. This page is the evergreen home for the series. Scroll down for the current year’s schedule, distances, fees, what last year actually looked like, and the bits the registration page doesn’t tell you.
Beyond the Sunset Series 2026: The 4 Events at a Glance
| Event | Date | Time | Venue at Hudayriyat | Entry fee (AED) | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RUN Beyond the Sunset | Sat 18 May 2026 | 6-9pm | Marsana | 50-65 | 5 km, 3 km |
| SWIM Beyond the Sunset | Sat 25 May 2026 | 3:30-7pm | Marsana | 40-60 | 1600 m, 800 m, 400 m, 200 m, 100 m, kids’ Splash and Dash |
| SKATE Beyond the Sunset | Sat 1 June 2026 | 5-9pm | Cycling Track | 40-65 | 10 km, 5 km, 3 km |
| RIDE Beyond the Sunset | Sat 8 June 2026 | 5-8:30pm | Cycle Track | 50-65 | Men 40.5 km, Women 27 km, Juniors 20 km, Juniors 10 km |
Vibe Check
Coastal cycle track, 5pm starts, dry desert wind and a starting line full of weekend warriors who actually paid for the suffering. Cooler than the morning races, friendlier than the international circuit ones, and small enough that your kids will probably see you finish.
What 2025 Actually Looked Like
2025 was the series’ third edition, building on what the organisers called a record-breaking 2024 turnout. The Run opened on Saturday 17 May with 5 km and 3 km options split across seven age categories – from junior runners through to a 60+ group, which is one of the friendlier age-bracket structures you see at a UAE race weekend. Swim followed on 25 May at Marsana, Ride landed on 31 May, and the Skate finale ran 1 June on the Cycle Track.
The crowd skewed family-and-amateur rather than elite – this is not a podium hunt, it is the closest UAE equivalent to a community parkrun with a medal. Photo albums from each 2025 event are public on Inphota if you want to see the actual turnout and finish-line crowd before you commit.
The bits that surprised first-timers in 2025: the sponsor activation village at the finish line was bigger than the registration page suggested (food trucks, photo wall, recovery stretches), bib pickup ran more smoothly the closer you got to event time, and the Skate event had more competitive 10 km racers than expected – so the 3 km is genuinely the family lane.
RUN Beyond the Sunset 2026 (18 May)
The series opener at Marsana on Hudayriyat. Two distances – 5 km and 3 km – over a 6 to 9pm window so the late starters still finish in twilight. Entry fees ran AED 50 to 65 depending on registration tier. If you missed this one, the next three are still wide open.
SWIM Beyond the Sunset 2026 (25 May)
This is the one with the most distance options. Six races across one afternoon: 1600 m, 800 m, 400 m, 200 m, 100 m, plus a kids’ Splash and Dash for the under-12 crowd. Marsana again, 3:30 to 7pm. Entry fees AED 40 to 60. Booking via RaceResult.
If you have never done an open water race in the UAE before, this one is the friendliest entry point of the whole series – short distances available, calm sheltered swim zone, and a finish line you can actually see from the start.
SKATE Beyond the Sunset 2026 (1 June)
Hudayriyat’s Cycling Track turns into a roller skate course for one evening – 5 to 9pm, smooth tarmac, no traffic. Three distances: 10 km, 5 km, 3 km. Entry fees AED 40 to 65. Register at RaceResult.
For the full event-specific breakdown including warm-up area and route map, see our SKATE Beyond the Sunset event page.
RIDE Beyond the Sunset 2026 (8 June)
The series finale and the longest day on the calendar. Four distances on the Cycle Track, scaled for everyone: Men’s 40.5 km, Women’s 27 km, Juniors 20 km, Juniors 10 km. 5 to 8:30pm start window. Entry fees AED 50 to 65. Sign up at RaceResult.
For the rider-specific guide including gearing notes and the bib pickup process, see our RIDE Beyond the Sunset event page.
Where Is Hudayriyat Island and How Do You Get There?
Hudayriyat Island sits just southwest of Abu Dhabi city, connected by a short bridge from the Corniche side. From Yas Island count on around 35 minutes by car. From the city centre it is more like 15. The two venues used by the series are Marsana (the waterfront and event lawn for Run and Swim) and the Cycle Track (the closed-loop tarmac for Skate and Ride). They are about a 5-minute drive apart inside the island.
What Actually Happens on Event Day
If this is your first sunset race, here is the rhythm of an event day so nothing surprises you:
- Bib pickup opens around two hours before the first wave. The desk is at the start line, not the parking entrance. Bring your registration confirmation and Emirates ID for ID-locked tiers.
- Warm-up area sits next to bib pickup with stretching mats and a sponsor or two handing out free isotonic drinks.
- Waves go off in distance order, longest first. If you’re in the shortest distance you’ll be standing around watching the long-course finishers, which is half the fun.
- Water stations sit every 2 to 2.5 km on the Run and Skate, and at the turnaround on the Ride. The Swim has feed stations only in the longer-distance lanes.
- Finish lounge has food trucks, a photo wall, a medal collection point and free water. You’ll want 30 to 45 minutes here before driving home.
WOW Expert Tip: Hudayriyat parking thins out fast after 4:30pm on event days, especially near Marsana. Aim to arrive by 4pm for the 5pm starts. Bib pickup is usually near the start line – look for the sponsor tents, not the registration desk you imagined.
Weather Prep: Dressing for an Abu Dhabi Sunset Race
May and June evenings in Abu Dhabi are not actually cool – they are less hot. Expect 30 to 32°C at 6pm with humidity in the 50 to 60% range, dropping a few degrees by 8pm. The sun also lingers – golden hour at Hudayriyat runs until about 6:40pm in May and closer to 7pm in June.
What to wear and pack:
- Wicking fabric top and shorts. Cotton holds sweat and turns into a wet brick within the first kilometre.
- Cap or visor for the first hour while the sun is still up. A peaked cap helps more than sunglasses for the Skate and Ride where wind matters.
- SPF 50 applied 30 minutes before warm-up. The UV index drops fast after 6pm but is still climbing-down territory at 5pm.
- 500ml minimum of your own water for the warm-up area. The water stations cover the race itself.
- Electrolytes matter more than calories at this length and heat. A salt tab or a single sachet before the warm-up makes a meaningful difference.
- A light long-sleeve for after the race. Once the sun goes down and you stop moving, the breeze off the water makes 28°C feel chilly in soaked clothing.
Kids, Elderly and Accessibility: Who Can Take Part?
For kids: The Swim’s Splash and Dash is the most child-friendly entry point in the whole series – it’s a short, supervised, fun-format race for under-12s with no qualifying time. The Run and Skate both have 3 km distances that work for confident 8 to 12 year olds, and the Ride has Juniors 10 km and 20 km categories with their own start waves. Strollers can roll the spectator areas at Marsana, less so the Cycle Track itself.
For older participants: The Run uses seven age categories that go through to 60-plus, which signals the series welcomes older entrants rather than treating them as outliers. The 3 km distance across Run and Skate is achievable at a walking-jogging pace. If you are pacing a parent or grandparent, the Run and Skate are the right entry points, and the Cycle Track has shaded benches along the loop.
Accessibility for people of determination: Hudayriyat Island itself is built with accessibility in mind – accessible pathways, disabled-friendly restrooms, drop-off zones near the main venues at Marsana, and parking close to the event lawn. As spectators or supporters, mobility is straightforward. For race entry as a participant in a wheelchair or with adaptive equipment, the series does not currently publish dedicated para categories in its registration tiers, so the best route is to email the organisers via the contact form on the Hudayriyat Island site before registering. They have been responsive in past editions to one-off accommodations.
Pricing, Prizes and What You Get
Entry fees across the series typically range AED 40 to 65 depending on event and registration tier. Every contestant gets an event T-shirt and a participation medal. Winners across selected categories share a prize pool that has been AED 60,000 in recent editions, distributed as gift vouchers and cash. It is not the kind of payout you race for, but it is real money for a community event.
When Does the Series Run Each Year?
The Beyond the Sunset Series has run in May and June across 2024, 2025 and 2026, with the four disciplines spaced one week apart. Expect the 2027 edition to follow the same pattern – announcements typically land around late March or early April on the Hudayriyat Island website. We update this page when each year’s schedule drops.
The Beyond the Sunset Series is an annual four-event athletic series at Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi. Each event is held in the evening to avoid the daytime heat. It covers running, swimming, skating and cycling across four Saturdays in May and June.
The 2026 edition runs from Saturday 18 May (Run) to Saturday 8 June (Ride). Swim is on 25 May and Skate is on 1 June.
Entry fees range from AED 40 to 65 per event depending on the activity and registration tier. Each event registers separately through RaceResult.
All four events are on Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi. Run and Swim are at Marsana, the waterfront event lawn. Skate and Ride are on the Cycling Track, the closed-loop tarmac. The two venues are about 5 minutes apart inside the island.
Yes. The Swim has a kids’ Splash and Dash for under-12s. The Ride has Juniors 10 km and 20 km categories with their own start waves. Run and Skate 3 km distances are also family-friendly entry points.
Yes for spectators – Hudayriyat has accessible pathways, disabled-friendly restrooms, and parking near the main venues at Marsana. For race entry as a participant using a wheelchair or adaptive equipment, the series does not publish dedicated para categories, so it is best to email the organisers via the Hudayriyat Island site before registering.
Wicking fabric top and shorts, a cap or visor for the first hour while the sun is still up, SPF 50 applied 30 minutes before warm-up, and a light long-sleeve for after the race when 28°C plus a sea breeze feels cool in soaked clothing. Avoid cotton.
Yes. The series has run in 2024, 2025 and 2026 with the same May to June calendar, and is expected to return in 2027 with announcements landing in late March or early April each year.
