What if, between desert, sea and skyscrapers, cycling became a new way to explore the United Arab Emirates ?

Experiencing the Emirates differently: when cycling becomes the way in.

To most travellers, the United Arab Emirates still conjure up a single image: a blend of luxury, towering skylines and air conditioning. Everything here seems designed for instant comfort, private cars and pleasure disconnected from place.

And yet, another landscape is emerging. Broader. Rougher. A country where you can breathe deeply, sweat freely, and let yourself be surprised by a new way of experiencing geography – on two wheels.

This approach isn’t a passing trend. It’s grounded in a deeper truth: it’s through friction, muscular repetition, short breath and the silence that follows that a land reveals its depth.
Here, cycling isn’t just recreation. It’s a way of reading the country.

United Arab Emirates: between solitude and performance, the chance to carve through emptiness one pedal stroke at a time.

Cycling in the Emirates is anything but obvious. The heat is intense for much of the year, cities are built for speed and cars, and the very idea of a cyclist can feel out of place in this vertical world.

And yet, cycling routes and infrastructure do exist: smooth, safe, well-lit tracks – sometimes monumental – have emerged in just a few years, cutting through the desert, stretching across islands or threading through city centres.

What’s happening here isn’t a gentle ride. It’s a physical and mental experience, shaped by unfamiliar ground, harsh light and a demand for discipline.
Some travel professionals, those who map routes as much with their legs as with their eyes, have found rare conditions here: a land to be swallowed line by line, in near-total silence.

Hudayriat : a futuristic haven for cyclists.

On this artificial island connected to Abu Dhabi, originally built as a beachfront leisure destination, cycling becomes something almost choreographic.

The main track is wide, perfectly designed and completely isolated from cars. you can ride early in the morning or at night thanks to intelligent lighting.

With each loop, the Abu Dhabi skyline unfolds on the horizon, its silhouette cut between sky and sea. one of the most striking parts of the route is a loop built on a suspended bridge above the water, dedicated entirely to cyclists.
you literally ride between sky and water, with the wind rushing right through.

this is where you refine your cadence, search for the perfect rhythm, and glide into the night with only your heartbeat for guidance.
a loop designed for rhythm and precision of movement, set in a sci-fi backdrop.

Over time, Hudayriat has become a true open-air training centre. Discover the cycling track map to learn more about the routes in abu dhabi.

New segments are being added, with more technical sections, ramps and even varied terrain to challenge seasoned cyclists.
it’s a laboratory for lovers of precision, speed and graphic beauty.

Al Wathba : riding through the desert in search of breath and horizon.

Just beyond the city, on the edge of the desert, stretches one of the most surprising cycling routes in the country.
Drawn across a raw, mineral landscape, the Al Wathba loop unfolds over 30 kilometers — no intersections, no shade, just pure open road.

It’s in this desert zone, once home to camel races, that a new geography of effort has taken shape.
Riding here means facing the seeming monotony, pushing through the wind’s resistance, syncing with the pulse of the tarmac, holding your rhythm.

A stripped-back environment where every straight line becomes a call to perseverance.

And like everywhere else, cycling connects people.
It’s not unusual to pass a well-equipped local group, chat at a stop with a young rider from Abu Dhabi, or get trail tips from an enthusiast on a coffee break.

The sport is spreading fast. It brings people together.
And in the slipstream of a freewheel, you catch a glimpse of another side of local life.

Jebel Hafeet : climbing Al Ain’s legendary mountain pass by bike.

In Al Ain, near the border with the Sultanate of Oman, Jebel Hafeet rises sharply from the desert plain.
This major geological relic, shaped over 70 million years ago, also marks a symbolic frontier between raw nature and human-made order.

The climb ? 11.7 kilometers at an average gradient of 7.4%.
A wide, flawless road that winds its way to the top through a series of tight switchbacks.

You have to bite into the climb. Feel it in your legs. Find your rhythm in your breath.
There’s little traffic. Just the road, your heartbeat, and the air brushing your shoulders.
A route made for climbers – built for steady minds.

Dubai by bike : between beach, architecture and innovative infrastructure.

n this vertigo-inducing metropolis, cycling is carving out its space — sometimes against the grain. Dubai’s 2040 masterplan includes an ambitious cycling network that will connect key areas across the city.

The cycle paths of Jumeirah run along the beach in soft morning light, while those in Business Bay wind through futuristic neighborhoods.

Here, you ride at dawn or late at night, when the heat subsides a little. Cycling becomes a way to glide through the city — without storefronts or staging.

In Dubai, even the infrastructure becomes a spectacle. Air-conditioned elevators lift cyclists up to elevated tracks, and sweeping cycle bridges look straight out of a sci-fi movie. Riding here, you sometimes enter a setting where the city adapts to the cyclist, almost like a stage to its actor.

Less intense, but equally effective for releasing tension or extending your movement between more focused sessions.

Adapting to the heat and pedaling better : smart tips and gear that make a difference.

Yes, it’s hot. Sometimes very hot. But that’s exactly what makes riding here interesting.

In the Emirates, you adapt : early starts, well before 7 a.m., heat management, technical fabrics, controlled pace.
You relearn how to listen to your inner rhythm, how to treat warming up like a conversation.
The weather, far from being an obstacle, becomes part of the landscape, an opponent to tame.

A country in motion, cycling as an immersive experience.

Why do the Emirates appeal to active travelers ? Because here, change is constant : new routes appear every year.
Mountain passes are carved, new loops rise from the sand. Some trails are yet to be imagined, off the beaten path, between natural zones and emerging landscapes.

And for those who travel with experienced local guides, the surprises never end.
Cycling here becomes a gateway to adventures in the making.

More than just a landscape : an invitation to experience things differently.

What cycling reveals here isn’t just a network of well-designed bike lanes. It’s a country in transformation, quietly offering new ways of being explored.

For those who travel with intention, who believe the terrain should also be felt in the legs, the Emirates offer a space that is physical and mental, raw, precise, and deeply stimulating.

No, this isn’t your typical cycling destination. And that’s exactly what makes it such an exciting playground – for the curious, the committed, the seasoned riders.
A land to be experienced at the right pace: the pace of breath, of heartbeat, of each pedal stroke.

And for those who don’t cycle but run, swim, climb or glide – the Emirates are already drawing new lines on the horizon.
Effort is everywhere. You just have to choose your path.

That’s the spirit behind every itinerary created by Les Voyages d’Apogée : to go further – in effort, in discovery, and in crafting bold scenarios made for unforgettable moments in striking landscapes.

So, what if you traced your own route through the desert?
Ready to leave the beaten track and ride where no one expects you?

Let’s explore your next travel ideas together, we’ll handle every detail.