Hatta readies for first regional ‘XDubai Spartan Race Championship’

The first Middle East edition of the XDubai Spartan Race Championship, one of the toughest obstacle races in the world, will take place at the Hatta Mountain Bike Trail on Friday, 10th November.

Being organised in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council, the event is part of the Hatta Comprehensive Development Plan, which was launched by Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The aim is to enhance the social and economic development of Hatta and boost its attractiveness as a tourism destination, particularly in the area of eco-tourism.

The Dubai Sports Council is working on implementing His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s directives by developing Hatta’s sports infrastructure and making it a destination of choice for sports events. Accordingly, the Hatta Stadium was revamped by the Council to enable it to host local and international competitions.

The organising committee of the event is working closely with different stakeholders to finalise preparations for the event. The committee has already held meetings with the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Municipality in Hatta, and the Dubai Health Authority. A number of site visits were organised to select the best tracks for the competition.

The Council is preparing a camping area near JA Hatta Fort Hotel close to the mountain trails, which will be open to participants in the championship on 9th and 10th November. In addition, a recreational village will be set up at the venue of the competition, which will include two medical centres, rest areas, a children’s play area, food trucks, and a dedicated area to display sports outfits and equipment from major companies.

The event will feature three categories including a special event for children below 15 years over a 1.5-km course. Open to either individuals or teams, the three main categories in the Spartan Race are the Spartan Sprint for amateurs and beginners over a 5-km course, a Beast Spartan race stretching over 21 km, and a special event for juniors. The elite athletes competing in the Spartan Beast will be competing for cash and other prizes worth more than US$50,000 (AED185,000).

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, will provide free shuttle services all day on 10th November from Dubai to Hatta. In addition, the organising committee will arrange more than 2,000 parking slots for participants and the public.