Ethiopian Nibret Melak Wins Dubai Marathon 2026 as Anchinalu Dessie Tops Women’s Race

Ethiopian athletes once again dominated the 25th edition of the Dubai Marathon, with Nibret Melak taking first place in the men’s elite race and Anchinalu Dessie claiming victory in the women’s category on Sunday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Melak, competing in his marathon debut, crossed the 42.195 km finish in a stunning 2:04:00, nearly two minutes ahead of his nearest rival and about 50 seconds faster than last year’s winning time. His performance extends Ethiopia’s remarkable streak at the event and makes him the latest in a line of Ethiopian runners to shine on the flat, fast course.

In the women’s race, 23-year-old Anchinalu Dessie delivered a breakout performance, finishing in 2:18:31 almost four minutes faster than her previous personal best. Her victory came after a late surge past early leader Muliye Dekebo, who suffered stomach issues with just over 2 km to go. Fellow Ethiopian Fantu Worku completed the women’s podium in third place.

The overall results highlighted the continued supremacy of Ethiopian long-distance runners at Dubai, with Yasin Haji earning silver in the men’s race and John Hakizimana of Rwanda the only non-Ethiopian in the top ten across both events. The marathon’s 25th-anniversary edition also featured thousands of runners across shorter distances and reinforced the race’s status as one of the world’s fastest and most competitive road marathons.