Millions Joshua Cheptegei Banked After Edging Kenyan and Tanzanian Rivals in Dubai Race

Joshua Cheptegei won the men's race at the Burj2Burj Half Marathon in Dubai on Sunday.

Ugandan long distance great Joshua Chepetegei added another win to his glittering resume when he claimed the Burj2Burj Half Marathon in Dubai on Sunday but how much did he make?

Ugandan legend Joshua Cheptegei added more millions to his bank balance following a hard-fought victory in Dubai on Sunday.

Cheptegei and Kenyan Irine Cheptai were the winners of the Burj2Burj Half Marathon 2026 in Dubai and it came with a bumper reward for the two-time Olympics champion.

The three-time world champion won a nail-biting men’s race where the top three finishers were separated by only four seconds. Cheptegei broke the tape in 59:26, delivering a coveted sub-60-minute performance.

He was closely followed by Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir, who finished in 59:28, and Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu, who secured third place with a time of 59:30 to complete an East African podium sweep.

How Much Will Cheptegei Take Home?

A blistering pace was set early by the lead pack, which remained tightly grouped until a final, decisive surge in the closing stages toward the finish line. With this victory, Cheptegei adds another significant road race title to his decorated career.

Besides that, the 29-year-old has also boosted his bank balance as there was a generous prize purse awarded to the top 10 male and female finishers.

Winners were receiving Dh40,000 (UGX38.6 million) which was the prize that went to Cheptegei and Cheptai.

Second and third place earned Dh20,000 (UGX19.3 million) and Dh16,000 (UGX15.4 million), respectively while there were also bonuses and appearance fees for the elite runners.