Al Salam Cycling Championship 2026 crowns champions as record numbers race through Dubai desert
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum witnesses dramatic finale
DUBAI – His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, witnessed the concluding stages of the men’s and women’s desert races held as part of the Al Salam Cycling Championship, marking the climax of the competition’s tenth and largest edition to date.
Organised by the Private Office of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai, the championship has grown into one of the region’s most prominent community cycling events, combining elite competition with broad grassroots participation.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the desert races brought together professional and amateur cyclists from across the UAE and abroad, competing over demanding routes through the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve. The men’s race concluded the desert category of the championship, following the closely contested women’s race held a day earlier, with total prize money for the desert races standing at Dh455,000.
Men’s desert challenge
In the men’s desert race, Dubai Residence Cycling Team’s Abdulla Al Ali claimed first place in the Emirati category after a strong performance across the 50-kilometre course, which tested riders with soft sand, uneven terrain and technical obstacles. Abdullah Al Hammadi secured second place, while Rashid Al Baloushi finished third, rounding out a tightly fought Emirati podium.
The Open category saw Omniyat Shabab Al Ahli’s Daan Eddyt Soete take top honours against a multinational field. His teammate Coen Vermeltfoort finished second, while Jason Toby Osborne of Airwerks Racing Team 1 claimed third place. In the women’s category of the desert race, Omniyat Shabab Al Ahli’s Nicole Louise Frain emerged victorious, followed by Dubai Residence Cycling Team’s Maddy Black in second and Marion Fromberger in third.
Team competitions added another layer of intensity to the desert races. In the Emirati team category, Dubai Residence Cycling Team secured first place, with Abu Dhabi Cycling Club finishing second and the State Security team placing third. In the Open team standings, Omniyat Shabab Al Ahli topped the leaderboard, followed by Dubai Residence Cycling Team in second and Airwerks Team 1 in third.
Age-group competitions also featured prominently. Al Wathba Maxfit’s Naif Al Marzooqi won the Emirati over-40 category, while Omniyat Shabab Al Ahli’s Grega Bole claimed first place in the Open over-40 category. Additional eight age-group events were held before and during the men’s race, including a 300-metre sprint challenge staged ahead of the main start, with participants across these races competing for Dh80,000 in prizes.
Women’s competition
The women’s desert race, attended by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, showcased strong participation and competitive depth across categories. In the Emirati women’s category, Noura Al Ghafli of MyWhoosh Team claimed first place, followed by her teammates Ayesha Foolad in second and Hamda bin Hammad in third, completing a podium sweep for the team.
In the Open women’s category, Omniyat Shabab Al Ahli dominated, with Nina Kessler taking first place, Nicole Louise Frain finishing second and Lea Lienschoeft securing third. At team level, MyWhoosh Team topped the Emirati women’s standings, followed by Airwerks Team 1 in second and Edge Team in third. In the Open category, Omniyat Shabab Al Ahli finished first, with Dubai Police Team second and Airwerks Team 2 third.
The women’s race was contested over a challenging 20-kilometre route through the Al Marmoom Nature Reserve, where riders navigated a series of technical obstacles designed to test endurance, control and desert-specific cycling skills. Mouza Al Mansoori, competing individually, won the Emirati women’s 40-plus category, while Yulia Polevaya of Airwerks Team 2 claimed first place in the Open 40-plus category.
The Organising Committee also honoured Sheikha Madiya bint Hasher bin Manaa Al Maktoum with a special recognition in appreciation of her participation and continued support for women’s races within the Al Salam Cycling Championship.
Global participation
The desert races attracted a total of 172 cyclists representing 41 nationalities and 23 teams, reinforcing the championship’s growing international appeal. The Emirati men’s category featured 62 riders across 10 teams, while the Open category included 90 participants representing eight teams. The women’s races brought together 20 competitors from five teams, reflecting increasing female participation in desert cycling disciplines.
The men’s race was flagged off by Essa Al Mutaiwei, Deputy Director General of the Court of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai, in the presence of Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Hatta Sports and Cultural Club.
Al Salam Cycling Championship
Speaking during the event, Omair bin Juma Al Falasi, Director General of the Private Office of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee of the Al Salam Cycling Championship, announced a new addition to the championship calendar. He confirmed that the Arqoub Al Sadeera Race will be held on 8 February, covering a 100-kilometre route from Al Samha in Abu Dhabi to Saih Al Salam in Dubai, marking the culmination of the championship’s tenth edition.
The race will feature men’s and women’s categories for professionals and amateurs representing clubs, further expanding the scope of the championship. Al Falasi noted that the route links two significant locations, reinforcing the event’s national character while opening participation to a wide cross-section of society.
He said that the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum have ensured that the Al Salam Cycling Championship continues to evolve through innovation, diversity and expanded competition formats. The introduction of desert racing, he added, has become a defining feature of the championship due to its distinctive obstacles, growing participation and increasing prize pools.