As temperatures touch 50C, Dubai runners turn to indoor marathon

Early on Saturday, as temperatures soared outside, a sprawling shopping centre in Dubai echoed to the squeak of sneakers as hundreds of people joined "Mallathon" -- an indoor, air-conditioned race.

The government-backed initiative aims to encourage exercise during August, often the United Arab Emirates' hottest month, and make use of Dubai's giant malls which are otherwise empty at that time. Running outside during summer in the Gulf, one of the world's hottest regions where temperatures sometimes top 50C, is unpleasant and even unsafe for many.

Throughout August, nine of the city's shopping centres -- including the cavernous Dubai Mall, one of the world's biggest -- are open daily for runners and walkers from 7am-10am.