Dubai Police riders dominate as 10th Al Salam Cycling Championship concludes
Landmark desert-to-city route spans 100km across Abu Dhabi and Dubai
DUBAI – 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 Arqoub Al Sadeera race brought the curtain down on the 10th edition of the Al Salam Cycling Championship on Sunday.
The final event delivered a competitive and celebratory close to a season that has steadily grown into one of the region’s most prominent community and professional cycling platforms. With strong international participation and large crowds lining parts of the route, the race underlined the championship’s expanding reach and appeal.
Organised by the Private Office of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai, the concluding race saw top honours shared across four categories. Jens Reynders of the Dubai Police team claimed the Professional Men’s title, while Helal Al Harbi of ABH Team secured first place in the Amateur Men’s category. In the women’s races, Dubai Police rider Petra Zsanko emerged victorious in the Professional Women’s category, and Ines Carrasco, competing independently, won the Amateur Women’s title.
Race results
The Professional Men’s podium featured a strong showing from the Dubai Police team, with Yacine Hamza finishing second and Jullen Vermote taking third place. In the Amateur Men’s category, Suleiman Manwal of Team Yasi claimed second place, followed by Mohamed Faraj from Airwerks Team – Bin Hadher in third.
Competition in the women’s fields was equally keen. In the Professional Women’s category, Elena Ibramin of the Dubai Police team finished second, while Daria Fomina, competing individually, placed third. The Amateur Women’s race saw Habiba Aliwa of the Airwerks Team take second place, with Zahra Hussein, also competing independently, rounding out the podium in third.
Arqoub Al Sadeera is regarded as the largest and only race of its kind, featuring a demanding 100 km route stretching from the Al Samha area in Abu Dhabi to Seih Al Salam in Dubai. The course linked urban and desert landscapes, offering a distinctive challenge to riders while symbolising cooperation between emirates. This year’s race attracted 367 cyclists representing 48 nationalities and 33 teams across the men’s and women’s competitions.
International field
The scale of participation reflected the championship’s growing global profile. The Professional Men’s category featured 46 cyclists representing 35 nationalities across six teams. In the Amateur Men’s category, 256 competitors from 18 nationalities took part, representing 19 teams.
Women’s participation also remained strong. The Professional Women’s category attracted 20 riders from 16 nationalities across three teams, while the Amateur Women’s event brought together 45 competitors of 14 nationalities representing five teams. Organisers highlighted the diversity of the field as a key marker of the championship’s inclusive ethos, bringing together elite athletes and community riders on the same stage.
Team standings
In the team classifications, the Dubai Police team finished first in the Professional Men’s standings, followed by the General Directorate for Identity and Foreigners Affairs in second place and Abu Dhabi Cycling Club in third. The Amateur Men’s team title was claimed by Airwerks Team – Bin Hadher, with Sheikh Ahmed bin Humaid Al Nuaimi’s ABH Team finishing second and the Ministry of Defence team taking third.
The Dubai Police team also topped the Professional Women’s team standings, ahead of the Dubai Residency team in second place and the Dubai Police Esaad team in third. In the Amateur Women’s team category, the Airwerks Racing team secured first place.
Reflecting the strong public interest and extensive participation, the Higher Organising Committee of the Al Salam Cycling Championship increased the total prize fund from Dh700,000 to Dh800,000. The enhanced prize money was distributed among the top finishers across the four categories, reinforcing the championship’s commitment to recognising athletic excellence at both professional and amateur levels.
Championship finale
The race was attended by several senior officials, including 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; Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council; Aref Al Awani, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council; and Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmouk, CEO of the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Center.
Al Falasi expressed appreciation for the support and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in ensuring the success of the 10th season. He noted that His Highness’s personal attendance at championship events played a significant role in encouraging community participation and promoting sport as part of a healthy and active lifestyle.
Officials described the Arqoub Al Sadeera race as a fitting conclusion to the milestone edition, affirming the Al Salam Cycling Championship’s status as the largest community cycling event of its kind globally to feature both amateur and professional competitions. The 10th edition was held under the slogan ‘Ten Years of Achievements and Success’ and included a wide range of races catering to different categories and skill levels.
Al Salam Cycling Championship
The season opened with the Emirati Men’s Amateur Race, organised in cooperation with the Dubai Police General Command. Under the theme ‘Safety and Security’, a professional race was staged for the second consecutive year from the Dubai Ruler’s Court to Al Marmoom Reserve. The programme also included the Elite Race, known as the HH The Ruler of Dubai Court Race, as well as desert races for men and women.
The concluding event also featured a camel caravan organised by the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Center, with participants from various nationalities. Joining the race route at Seih Al Salam, the caravan added a cultural dimension and visual highlight to the finale.
The Arqoub Al Sadeera race was organised in cooperation with multiple entities, including the Ministry of Interior, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Dubai Sports Council, Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, Dubai Police General Headquarters, the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Center, and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation. Additional partners included Dubai Municipality, the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, the Government of Dubai Media Office, the Hamdan bin Mohammed International Photography Award, Dubai Sports Channel, the UAE Cycling Federation as general referee, and Dubai Film.