AMN Plus – May 2/2026
The Sheikh Zayed 5km running competition, an event dedicated to promoting kindness and compassion among all people, will be held tomorrow at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa.
Organized through the collaboration of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Culture and Sports, the event highlights shared human values of goodwill, unity, and solidarity.
Having been staged in various countries around the world, the running competition now arrives in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, bringing together around 4,500 participants from different categories and both genders.
State Minister for Sports Development at the Ministry of Culture and Sports, Mekiyu Mohammed, said Ethiopia’s growing focus on sports development under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) is producing tangible results in sports diplomacy. He described the Sheikh Zayed charity run as a clear reflection of this progress.
The state Minister further noted that the increasing number of continental and international sporting events hosted in Addis Ababa demonstrates Ethiopia’s rising profile in sports tourism and global sports diplomacy, while also strengthening people-to-people ties between nations.
The Chairman of the Sheikh Zayed Charity Run Organizing Committee, Lieutenant General Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi, expressed his appreciation for Ethiopia’s hospitality, describing the country as a symbol of kindness and humanity. He also thanked organizers for creating a platform where shared human values are expressed through sport.
The running competition will feature 50 athletes from the United Arab Emirates alongside 4,500 participants from various backgrounds. It is scheduled to take place from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Winners placing from first to third will receive cash prizes ranging from 175,000 to 600,000 birr, depending on their ranking.
By Birhanu Workneh
