Al Salam Cycling Championship returns with five races from 27 December
The 11th edition runs from 27 December to 14 March, with Dh3.695 million in prize money and about 1,900 riders expected, including an open desert race for amateurs.
The Al Salam Cycling Championship, Dubai's season of community and professional bike races, will hold its 11th edition from 27 December 2026 to 14 March 2027. The organising committee, chaired by Omair bin Juma Al Falasi, says there will be five races for men and women, Dh3.695 million in prize money and about 1,900 riders from the UAE and abroad.
The season opens on 27 December with the Emirati Men's Amateur Race, worth Dh1 million. The Elite Race on 17 January, for UAE amateurs, professionals, clubs and national teams, also carries Dh1 million. The Women's Race on 24 January is open to amateur and professional riders from around the world, with Dh460,000 in prizes. The Open Desert Race on 31 January has men's and women's amateur and professional categories and is open to riders worldwide. The season closes on 14 March with the Arqoub Al Sadeera Race, expected to be the biggest field at more than 600 riders.
Amateur riders who want a start should look at the Open Desert Race, the Women's Race and the Arqoub Al Sadeera Race, which take riders from abroad as well as from the UAE. Registration dates, entry fees and routes for this edition have not been announced yet; they are normally published on the championship's website, alsalamchampionship.com. For spectators, the races are a reason to keep weekend mornings free from late December.