Al Salam Cycling Championship Opens With Emirati Men's Amateur Race On 28 December

The 10th Al Salam Cycling Championship is set to begin with the Emirati Men’s Amateur Race on Sunday, 28th December, launched under the patronage and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and organised by The Private Office of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai.

The new edition carries the slogan ‘Ten Years of Achievements and Success’, marking a full decade since the event began. During this period, the Al Salam Cycling Championship has grown into a regular community fixture that showcases Dubai’s sporting culture and presents the emirate’s key landmarks to both local and international audiences.

The opening Emirati Men’s Amateur Race, held under the theme ‘Security and Safety’, will span 158 kilometres. Cyclists will start from the Dubai Police Academy and ride through varied terrain before reaching the finish line and awards area at Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve in Saih Al Salam, a popular hub for sports and cycling fans.

The Supreme Organising Committee has also confirmed three further races to complete the 10th Al Salam Cycling Championship programme. The Elite Race, themed ‘The Ruler’s Court of Dubai Race’, will cover 200 kilometres on 18th January, starting from The Ruler’s Court of Dubai and ending once again at Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve in Saih Al Salam.

Women will compete in a dedicated race on 25 January, giving female cyclists a separate platform within the Al Salam Cycling Championship calendar. The 10th edition will close with the Desert Race on 1 February 2026, extending the series over several weeks and drawing repeated community attention to Dubai’s outdoor sports locations.

Alongside the sporting schedule, the Supreme Organising Committee announced the second edition of a photography competition linked to the Al Salam Cycling Championship. The contest is organised with the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award, aiming to build on strong interest and positive feedback recorded during the previous edition.

Al Salam Cycling Championship vision, growth and institutions

Omair bin Juma Al Falasi, Director General of The Private Office of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee of the Al Salam Cycling Championship, said that the route chosen for the Emirati Men’s Amateur Race reflects the vision and directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, from which the Al Salam Cycling Championship was launched to celebrate national institutions and highlight Dubai’s cultural and heritage landmarks.

Al Falasi stated that race routes for the Al Salam Cycling Championship are planned so that riders pass through different districts of the emirate. Previous editions partnered with key national bodies such as The Ruler’s Court of Dubai and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, and one special race coincided with Expo 2020 Dubai, with other courses running through central Dubai and extending to Hatta.

According to Al Falasi, the Emirati Men’s Amateur Race records improving performance levels each year, with stronger competition as participants target leading positions. This trend supports the wider goals of the Al Salam Cycling Championship, which are to encourage residents to integrate sport into daily life for better health and to attract broader engagement with cycling as a community activity.

The Emirati Men’s Amateur Race has already seen strong registration, underlining the Al Salam Cycling Championship’s position as one of the largest community cycling events of its type worldwide in terms of diversity of participants and prize value. The Championship is organised in cooperation with several strategic partners, including Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, Dubai Sports Council, Government of Dubai Media Office, Dubai Sports Channel, UAE Cycling Federation as general referee, and Dubai Film.

With inputs from WAM