Prominent UAE athlete bids to beat Guinness World Record for Seven Emirates Challenge

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Dubai-based athlete Ghani Souleymane is well known in the local sports community.

He rose to prominence for the incredible achievement of completing 30 ultramarathons in 30 days in 2020, and completing 30 Ironman 70.3 distances in 30 days in 2021 as part of Dubai 30x30, for which he was honoured in the Dubai Fitness Challenge Hall of Fame for the second time by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Now the Togo native is attempting his biggest challenge to date – to run across all seven Emirates of the UAE in the fastest known time, beating a previous record set in 2021 of 6 days and 21 hours 48 minutes

The exceptional athlete, who is an Adidas employee and running coach at LK Running Performance in Dubai, is a well-known fixture at Dubai’s community races – often seen on the sidelines handing out water, cheering competitors or running alongside first-time runners to support them on their race, rather than competing himself.

Ghani, a native of Togo who has lived in Dubai since 2017 is gearing up for his next feat of endurance and speed, as he attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing of the Seven Emirates, first attempt was in 2006 by Jalal Jamal Majid Bin Thaneya Al Marri.

“I’m fortunate to have been born with a gift for endurance and sports,” says the 39-year-old athlete.

“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.”

Ghani will be running through all seven emirates in the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. His mission, to break the existing record of 6 days 21hours 48munites, begins on Tuesday and is set to end on March 11.