UAE-based athlete attempts to beat Guinness World Record for the 7 Emirates Challenge

Dubai-based athlete Ghani Souleymane will on Tuesday begin his attempt at the fastest crossing of the UAE on foot, in a bid to create a new Guinness World Record.

The popular runner first rose to prominence for completing 30 ultramarathons in 30 days in 2020, and completing 30 Ironman “70.3-mile” distances in 30 days the following year as part of Dubai 30x30, for which he was honored in the Fitness Challenge Hall of Fame for the second time by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai.

The athlete from Togo is now attempting his biggest challenge to date — to run across all seven emirates of the UAE in the fastest known time, beating the previous record set in 2021 of 6 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes

The runner, who is an Adidas employee and running coach at LK Running Performance in Dubai, is a well-known figure at community races and is often seen on the sidelines handing out water, cheering competitors or running alongside first-time runners to support them.

Souleymane has lived in Dubai since 2017 and is bidding to set new standards in a challenge first attempted in 2006 by Jalal Jamal Majid Bin Thaneya Al-Marri.

Souleymane said: “I’m fortunate to have been born with a gift for endurance and sports.

“I am passionate about encouraging everyone to harness the benefits of fitness and sport to make themselves mentally and physically stronger.

“I believe it is part of my duty to give back to others, and so I will be attempting to beat the existing world record for the fastest crossing of the UAE on foot, in the name of raising money for the Heroes of Hope charity, in association with Al Jalila Foundation.”

Souleymane will be running through Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm