A new 50km sand bike track will be built in Dubai’s Mushrif National Park, authorities have announced.
The project will help bring the total length of bike tracks in the emirate to 739km by 2026, as part of Dubai's Vision 2021 strategy to become a cycle-friendly city.
The new track will be set inside the park’s forest, which includes 70,000 trees.
The rugged track provides an enjoyable riding experience even for beginners
Dawoud Al Hajri,
Dubai Municipality
“The first phase of the winding track, which is three metres wide, has the capacity to accommodate more than 3,000 cyclists per day,” said Dawoud Al Hajri, director general of Dubai Municipality.
“The track starts from near the main gate of the park and ends at the same point. It features three quick-return lanes linked to three rest stops, as well as two bike rental and repair shops.
“The rugged track provides an enjoyable riding experience even for beginners.”
He said the track represented a unique addition to the infrastructure projects, services and facilities being built by the Dubai government to encourage sports and recreational activities, and to improve living standards in the emirate.
The track is designed to appeal to both amateurs and professionals.
Three crossing bridges will be constructed as part of the project’s first phase, with a further seven to be built by the time the track is completed.
Dubai is constructing several new cycle paths this year as part of a Dh400 million ($108m) strategy to make cycling safer in the emirate.
In June, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced plans for a 16km track along Dubai's Jumeirah Beach
Once complete, it will connect the existing Jumeirah Street cycle track — parallel to the canal — with the track alongside Dubai internet City.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The specs: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Price, base: Dh399,999
Engine: Supercharged 6.2-litre V8
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 707hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 875Nm @ 4,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 16.8L / 100km (estimate)
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
More on animal trafficking
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
