Dubai Ride 2026: thousands cycle Sheikh Zayed Road as 10th Dubai Fitness Challenge opens

Dubai · Sports · Nov. 1, 2026 · Dubai Ride 2026 took place before sunrise on Sunday, with thousands of cyclists riding the 14 lanes of Sheikh Zayed Road to open the 10th Dubai Fitness Challenge. Arrival opened at 4 a.m., riders rolled out at 6:15 a.m., the gates closed at 7:30 a.m. and Sheikh Zayed Road was handed back to traffic at 8:15 a.m.

Two routes and five start gates

Riders chose between two courses: a 12 km Sheikh Zayed Road route from Dubai World Trade Centre to Safa Park and back, and a flat 4 km Downtown family route along Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard. Riders entered from five start gates — Museum of the Future, Al Satwa, Coca-Cola Arena, Business Bay and Lower Financial Street — and finished at the gate they started from. Presented by DP World, registration was free and every participant received a free T-shirt.

The 10th Fitness Challenge and last year's record

Dubai Ride is the opening act of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, launched in 2017 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, with a simple ask: 30 minutes of activity a day for 30 days. This year's season runs from October 31 to November 29, 2026. Last year's Dubai Ride set an all-time record of 40,327 riders, up from 37,130 in 2024; organisers have not yet released the final 2026 count. The 2026 edition also introduced a first-time Dress Your Ride competition, with Dh10,000 in prizes for the best-decorated bikes and themed outfits, judged from official event photographs.