DUBAI — 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.

“If you run outside, it’s not healthy at all because temperatures are around 40C to 50C,” said one runner who gave his name as Rai, his platinum-blond hair pulled back with a headband.

Participants wearing “Dubai Mallathon” T-shirts and sports gear ran and walked past closed stores along vacant, marbled halls that were set to be teeming with shoppers hours later.

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.

On weekends, runners can enter organised 10km, 5km or 2.5km races at designated malls, complete with podium presentations and prizes.

During Saturday’s race at the City Centre Mirdif mall, two robots buzzed around the participants, who paused to take selfies with them.

Others waited in line to use electric bikes that powered blenders to make healthy smoothies.