Abu Dhabi Sports Council unveils UAE Tour 2025 routes scheduled for February

The Abu Dhabi Sports Council - the organising body of the UAE Tour - 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. An elite group of professional individual cyclists and teams are set to participate in one of the most prominent sporting events that attracts worldwide media interest and coverage.

The upcoming two editions of the UAE Tour - the only two international cycling races in the Middle East on the UCI World Tour agenda - are a continuation of the successes it has achieved over the past years. The Abu Dhabi Sports Council announced that the UAE Tour Women 2025 will be held from 6 to 9 February, over four stages starting from Dubai and ending in Abu Dhabi, covering a total distance of 540 km.

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 12.2 km, with the total distance covered this year being 1,013 km. 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 a distance of 149 km from the Dubai Police Officers Club to Dubai Harbour. The second stage on Friday, 7 February, will be held in the Al Dhafra region, specifically from Al Dhafra Fort to Al Mirfa over a distance of 111 km. The third stage (mountain) will be held on Saturday, 8 February, in Al Ain, covering a distance of 152 km, starting from Qasr Al Muwaiji and reaching the summit of Jebel Hafeet. Finally, 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 128 km, 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 138 km 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 a distance of 12.2 km. The third and one of the most important stages of the Tour will be held on Wednesday, 19 February, in Ras Al Khaimah, reaching the summit of Jebel Jais for a distance of 179 km. 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 a distance of 181 km. 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 a distance of 160 km, followed by the sixth stage in Abu Dhabi for a distance of 167 km from in front of 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 176 km. 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 extend my thanks and appreciation to the wise leadership for their continuous support for the sports sector and athletes, at a time when the UAE Tour has confirmed its position as the most prominent and prestigious event in the calendar of global sporting events held in the UAE.”

He added: “The UAE Tour returns with its two upcoming editions as part of the International Cycling Union’s 2025 racing agenda, and is the most important race 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, including the tourism and health sectors, in light of the interest in promoting cycling as part of a healthy lifestyle for all members of society.”

Al Awani further explained that the 2025 edition’s routes cover most of the UAE’s regions and landmarks, as the Tour also aims to be a major driver of tourism. This year’s race will be particularly exciting with the presence of elite cyclists and champions such as Tadej Pogačar, the current world champion and winner of the Giro d’Italia and the prestigious Tour de France, as well as Elisa Longo Borghini, winner of the Giro d'Italia Women and the first edition of the UAE Tour Women. Al Awani indicated that the participation of such exceptional talents and world champions is evidence and testimony to the success of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s efforts to establish the UAE Tour as a cornerstone of cycling in the Middle East and reinforces their commitment to making the race a major event on the global cycling calendar.

“We are excited and ready for the seventh edition of the UAE Tour and the third edition of the UAE Tour Women, following the successes achieved by the two races in previous editions, which were made possible thanks to our wise leadership. Both the Men’s and Women’s editions of the Tour have always been a symbol of excellence and will continue to be as unique and valuable this year. The tracks offer opportunities for all riders' disciplines, and we have a fantastic group of world champions ready to take on the challenges of each stage.”

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 involved partners and sponsors 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.