Al Salam Cycling Championship to organise Desert Races for Women and Men

Under the patronage and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Private Office of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai will organise Desert Races for Women and Men on Saturday (31 January) and Sunday (1 February) respectively, as part of the Al Salam Cycling Championship. The races form part of the Championship’s tenth season, held under the slogan ‘Ten Years of Achievements and Success’.
The Championship’s Higher Organising Committee has designed a demanding racecourse at Al Marmoom Reserve in the Saih Al Salam area. The race will be contested on mountain bikes, with participants required to wear helmets and cycling goggles and carry all necessary equipment. Given the physically and technically challenging nature of the course, cyclists must be well prepared to navigate the varied terrain, obstacles and race conditions.
The total prize money for the two races is AED455,000, the largest prize pool of its kind for desert cycling races worldwide.
The action will begin with the Desert Race for Women on Saturday, covering a distance of 20 km, and featuring two categories: Emirati women and an open category for all nationalities.
This will be followed the next day by the Desert Race for Men, which will cover a distance of 52 km and include two special challenges with dedicated cash prizes.
His Excellency Omair bin Juma Al Falasi, Director General of the Private Office of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, confirmed that the Al Salam Championship, in line with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has consistently prioritised inclusivity by organising a wide range of cycling competitions.
“This approach seeks to engage all segments of society while keeping pace with the latest developments in the sport. Desert races are fundamentally different from road cycling events, requiring exceptional physical endurance as well as sharp decision-making to overcome obstacles swiftly and efficiently, resulting in highly competitive and exciting races each year.”
Al Falasi emphasised that the strong turnout and high registration levels reflect both the rising performance standards of contestants and the Al Salam Championship’s growing stature as a leading destination for cyclists from the UAE and around the world.
The two races mark the fourth and fifth events of the tenth season of the Al Salam Cycling Championship. The season opened with the ‘Security and Safety’ race, dedicated to Emirati cyclists and organised in cooperation with Dubai Police. This was followed by the Ruler of Dubai Court Race, held for the second consecutive year, which started at the Court of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai and concluded at the Al Marmoom Reserve, featuring the participation of elite professional cyclists representing a range of nationalities. The Championship also featured its women’s race last week, which saw some of the world’s leading female cyclists compete at the Al Marmoom Reserve.
The event also features the Al Salam Cycling Championship Photography Contest, organised in collaboration with the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award. Winners will be announced and honoured at the end of the championship.
The Al Salam Cycling Championship is being held in cooperation with several strategic partners, including Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Sports Council, the Government of Dubai Media Office, the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award, Dubai Sports Channel, the UAE Cycling Federation (general referee), and Dubai Film.