The Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the organising body of the UAE Tour, has revealed the routes of the seventh edition of the UAE Tour 2025 and the third edition of the UAE Tour Women, both of which will be held this February.
The upcoming editions of the UAE Tour, the only two international cycling races in the Middle East on the UCI World Tour agenda, while feature elite individual cyclists and teams competing in one of the most prominent sporting events in the UAE.
The Abu Dhabi Sports Council announced that the UAE Tour Women 2025 will be held from 6-9 February, over four stages starting from Dubai and ending in Abu Dhabi, covering a total distance of 540km, while the UAE Tour will be held over seven stages, starting from Al Dhafra and ending in Al Ain. These include four flat stages, two mountain stages, and an individual time trial stage for a distance of 12.2km, with the total distance covered this year being 1,013km.
The routes are diverse, forming a unique combination that facilitates the best performance for all cyclists. The tour passes through the most prominent tourist attractions in the UAE, highlighting the diversity of its geographical and natural terrain.
The UAE Tour Women kicks off on Thursday, 6 February 2025 in Dubai, with the route spanning 149km from the Dubai Police Officers Club to Dubai Harbour. The second stage on Friday, 7 February, will be held in the Al Dhafra Region, from Al Dhafra Fort to Al Mirfa over a distance of 111km. The third stage (mountain) will be held on Saturday, 8 February, in Al Ain, covering 152km, starting from Qasr Al Muwaiji and reaching the summit of Jebel Hafeet. The UAE Tour Women will conclude in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, 9 February, starting from the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy headquarters and reaching the finish line at the Abu Dhabi Corniche breakwater for a distance of 128km, during which many landmarks of the UAE capital will be highlighted.
The UAE Tour 2025 will commence on Monday, 17 February, with the first stage in the Al Dhafra Region extending 138km from the Shams Solar Power Station in Madinat Zayed to Liwa Palace, followed by the second stage on 18 February, on Al Hudayriat Island in Abu Dhabi, which is an individual time trial for 12.2km. The third stage of the Tour will be held on Wednesday, 19 February, in Ras Al Khaimah, reaching the summit of Jebel Jais and covering 179km. The Tour will then move to the fourth stage on Thursday, 20 February, starting from Qidfa Beach in Fujairah and finishing in Umm Al Quwain, covering 181km. The fifth stage will be held in Dubai on Friday, 21 February, starting from the American University in Dubai and finishing at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, covering 160km, followed by the sixth stage in Abu Dhabi for a distance of 167km from the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club headquarters on Al Hudayriat Island to the Abu Dhabi Corniche breakwater.
The tour concludes with its seventh and final stage in Al Ain, covering 176km. It is a crucial mountain stage that starts from Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, passes through Al Ain’s most prominent landmarks, and reaches the finish line on the summit of Jebel Hafeet.
His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the wise leadership for their continuous support for the sports sector and athletes, while the UAE Tour has confirmed its position as one of the most prestigious and major events on the agenda of global sporting events held in the UAE.
“The UAE Tour returns with its two upcoming editions as part of the 2025 UCI racing agenda, making them the most important races in the Middle East region. We are pleased with the successes achieved by the UAE in cycling in recent years, which has been reflected in many vital sectors, especially the tourism and health sectors, in light of the interest in promoting cycling as a healthy lifestyle for all members of society.
“The 2025 edition’s routes cover most of the UAE’s regions and landmarks, with the Tour aiming to be a major driver of tourism. This year’s race will feature elite cyclists, including Tadej Pogačar, the current world champion, and winner of the Giro d’Italia and the prestigious Tour de France, and Elisa Longo Borghini, winner of the Giro d’Italia Women and the first edition of the UAE Tour Women. The participation of world champions is evidence of the success of our efforts to establish the UAE Tour as a cornerstone of cycling in the region, reinforcing our commitment at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council to making the race a major event on the global cycling agenda.”
Fabrizio D’Amico, Chief Operating Officer of RCS Sports and Events and UAE Tour Director, expressed his gratitude for the support and efforts of the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club and Abu Dhabi Sports Council as well as all the partners and sponsors involved in facilitating the continued growth of cycling. He also highlighted the UAE’s position as a leading global cycling destination and their efforts in promoting the sport as a recreational and healthy activity.
