For distance runners, every second matters. Physical training, a nutritious diet and mental resilience all play a key role, but there is one physiological factor that can set the pace for success: running economy. Simply put, it is the efficiency with which a runner uses oxygen at a given speed. While consistent training defines much of this, footwear could be a controllable variable that can help athletes achieve their personal bests on race day.
Keeping this in mind, PUMA recently launched the Fast-R NITRO Elite 3. The latest running shoe is designed not just for speed, but for measurable efficiency improvements. For the first time, PUMA brought its world-class testing environment, the Nitro Lab - a first-of-its-kind activation - to the Middle East. Hosted at SIRO One Za’abeel in Dubai, the experience invited athletes from across the region to put this innovation to the test.
Independent research led by biomechanics expert Wouter Hoogkamer at the University of Massachusetts Amherst demonstrated that the Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 improves running economy by 3.15 per cent. For a marathoner running three hours, that equates to a potential saving of over four and a half minutes, the difference between finishing strong and setting new personal records.
Nitro Lab experience
Since its establishment in 2021 at PUMA’s Boston headquarters, the Nitro Lab has become the proving ground for the brand’s performance breakthroughs. Outfitted with 3D motion capture, metabolic testing, and force-instrumented treadmills, the lab allows researchers to measure oxygen consumption, stride dynamics, and energy return in real time.
In Dubai, the Nitro Lab allowed participants to see direct, data-driven comparisons between the Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 against their own elite race-day shoes. Within 15 minutes of completing their treadmill test, they received real-time results showing measurable efficiency gains.
“Running economy is like fuel efficiency in a car,” said Maximilian Gruttner, team head of performance concepts - innovation for footwear and apparel at PUMA Headquarters in Herzo. “If you need less oxygen to maintain the same pace, you are running more efficiently. That’s what makes the Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 our fastest shoe yet.”
The secret lies in the shoe’s engineering. Weighing 95g less than its predecessor, the Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 is built for speed. Its NITROFOAM Elite midsole provides enhanced cushioning and responsiveness for a lasting bounce, while the PWRPLATE carbon delivers powerful propulsion and running efficiency. Completing the design, the ULTRAWEAVE upper and PUMAGRIP outsole provide lightweight comfort and multi-surface traction for race-day performance.
Laura Healey, senior manager of research and insights at PUMA Running in Boston, said: “Our NITROFOAM Elite is designed to sustain responsiveness from the first step to the last, ensuring efficiency isn’t lost across a marathon distance.
"What makes this shoe really special is that we used so many data inputs from professional athletes and really understood how they responded to the shoe to ensure it works across the board.”
She emphasised that while efficiency gains don’t translate directly into speed, they can be calculated into time savings.
First impressions
For endurance athlete and Abu Dhabi coach Lobna El-Halawani, the difference was immediate. "It feels light, fast, and gives me an extra push with every stride. It’s like flying," she said.
"My results showed a 2.63 per cent improvement in running economy compared to the elite race-day competitor shoe I had been using previously. My 10K personal best is 51 minutes. Based on the test results during the event, the improved efficiency would have reduced my running time by approximately two minutes, bringing my finish to 49:09 minutes.
"Similarly, for my half-marathon best of 2 hours and 10 minutes, the 2.63 per cent gain would have cut my time to approximately 2 hours and 6 minutes. For marathon training, saving energy while maintaining pace is everything, and these shoes make that possible.”
Another UAE-based athlete, Yasmine Elhamouly, said the experience was nothing short of exhilarating.
“The bounce is incredible, and my muscles felt fresher because the shoe was doing part of the work,” she said. “My results showed a 3.03 per cent improvement, which means I could save more than seven minutes in a marathon, up to three minutes in a half-marathon, and around 1 minute 22 seconds in a 10K race.
"On race day, those gains can make all the difference, and these elite shoes deliver exactly that. It’s not just about running faster, it’s about running smarter, for longer.”
Coach Aziz, who was visiting from Saudi Arabia, said: “At first, I was a little apprehensive about the stability of the shoe, but the moment I started running, it felt light and fast.
"With every stride, it gave me that extra push forward. What stood out most to me was that my legs felt lighter, fresher, and ready to go longer. I came to Dubai to put these elite running shoes to the test, and the results showed that the FAST-R 3 improved my running economy by 3.08 per cemt. That could mean cutting up to six minutes off my marathon time, two minutes from my half-marathon, or 57 seconds in a 10k race.
"With the carbon plate, better cushioning, and proven efficiency gains, the difference is clear — this will be my go-to race shoe.”
Setting new benchmarks
The convergence of sport science, athlete data and design innovation makes running economy measurable and relatable and sets a benchmark for how footwear can shape performance outcomes.
Mr Gruttner said that bringing Nitro Lab to Dubai signals PUMA’s recognition of the Middle East’s thriving running culture. The region is becoming home to a growing number of marathons and a passionate community of athletes seeking every competitive edge.
“Dubai is a hub for running communities from around the world,” he said. “It’s the perfect place to show, with hard data, that PUMA has created a superior product based on a scientifically proven performance tool.”
Johan Kuhlo, managing director PUMA Middle East, said: “Bringing the Nitro Lab to Dubai is a landmark moment for PUMA. The Middle East’s fast-growing running community deserves to experience the science and innovation behind the Fast-R NITRO Elite 3.
"This activation lets athletes test the shoe, see the data, and connect science to performance. Launching the new colourway here first makes the debut even more special, highlighting both our innovation and commitment to the region.”
As marathon season approaches and athletes in the Middle East prepare to lace up, one thing is certain — in today’s races, efficiency is the new speed.
The shoes will be available at PUMA UAE shops, PUMA Online (in Saudi Arabia and the UAE) and select GO Sport shops.
This page was produced by The National in partnership with PUMA
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Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
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Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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