Sheikh Hamdan is encouraging people in Dubai to get on their bikes for the Dubai Ride event. Supplied
Sheikh Hamdan is encouraging people in Dubai to get on their bikes for the Dubai Ride event. Supplied
Sheikh Hamdan is encouraging people in Dubai to get on their bikes for the Dubai Ride event. Supplied
Sheikh Hamdan is encouraging people in Dubai to get on their bikes for the Dubai Ride event. Supplied

'Join me': Sheikh Hamdan encourages people to take part in 14km Dubai Ride event


Sophie Prideaux
  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Hamdan is encouraging people across Dubai to get involved with a fitness challenge that will transform Sheikh Zayed Road into a cycle track.

For the first time, Dubai residents will be able to cycle along the busy 14-lane highway when it is closed to traffic on November 20 for Dubai Ride, part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

The Crown Prince of Dubai shared a video on his Twitter page encouraging people to sign up for the one-off event.

"Dubai endeavours to be among the most active and dynamic cities in the world, and as part of this year's Dubai Fitness challenge, we've launched Dubai Ride on November 20, which will pass through the city's top landmarks," he said. "Join me by registering at dubairide.com."

Cyclists of all abilities are invited to take part and participants can choose between two routes; a four-kilometre family ride and a 14km open ride.

The 4km family-friendly fun ride is open to participants aged 5 and above and will take cyclists around Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard.

The 14km route, created for cycling enthusiasts aged 13 or older, will go past Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai Canal and along both sides of Sheikh Zayed Road, which be closed to traffic from Al Meydan Road to the roundabout at the World Trade Centre.

Sheikh Hamdan said the event aimed to encourage cycling among the emirate's residents "to enhance our health and well-being, or promote environmentally friendly transport in our communities".

Cyclists must be able to cycle a minimum of 4km, bring their own bike and helmet and register to participate at dubairide.com.

Speed limits, closely monitored by pace cars, will be set to ensure safety. They will also ensure cyclists follow social distancing rules.

The event is free, but participants are invited to support Education Uninterrupted, a nationwide fundraising campaign that aims to help pupils affected by Covid-19, with donations.

More information on Education Uninterrupted is available here.

Click through the gallery below to see photos of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid cycling around Dubai:

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm

Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km

Price: from Dh362,500

On sale: now

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.