ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in collaboration with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), has announced the organisation of the upcoming editions of the UAE Tour Women and the UAE Tour Men in February 2026, with AD Ports Group confirmed as the partner of both events until 2028.
The UAE Tour Women will take place from February 5-8, 2026, while the UAE Tour Men will be held from February 16-22, 2026.
The announcement was made during a press conference held at Zayed National Museum on Saadiyat Island, attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Director of International Events at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council; His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council; His Excellency Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Cycling Club; and Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, in addition to a large number of officials, strategic partners, representatives of sponsoring entities, including local and international media professionals.
The UAE Tour Women, which is part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar, will be held over four stages covering a total distance of 533km across Al Dhafra Region, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Region.
The race will feature the participation of 20 international teams.
The first stage will start from Al Mugheirah Walkway in Al Dhafra Region and finish in Madinat Zayed over a distance of 111km.
The second stage will take place in Dubai, starting from the Dubai Police Academy in Umm Suqeim and finishing at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) over 145km.
The third stage will be held in Abu Dhabi, starting from Team Lab Phenomena and finishing at the Breakwater over 121km.
The final stage will be held in Al Ain Region, starting from Hazza bin Zayed Stadium and finishing at the summit of Jebel Hafeet over 156km.
The UAE Tour Men, which is part of the UCI WorldTour calendar, will feature 21 international teams and will be contested over seven stages covering a total distance of 1,002.2km across various emirates.
The opening stage will start from Majlis Madinat Zayed in Al Dhafra Region and finish at Liwa Castle over 144km.
The second stage will be an individual time trial held on Al Hudayriat Island over 12.2km.
The third stage will start from Umm Al Quwain and finish at Jebel Mebrah in Ras Al Khaimah over 183km.
The fourth stage will take place in Fujairah over a distance of 182km.
The fifth stage will be held in Dubai, starting from Al Mamzar and finishing at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) over 166km.
The sixth stage will be held in Al Ain Region, starting from Al Ain Museum and finishing at the summit of Jebel Hafeet over 168km.
The final stage will be held in Abu Dhabi, starting from Zayed National Museum and finishing at the Breakwater over 149km.
The Abu Dhabi Sports Council also announced that the UAE Tour Women and UAE Tour Men have been officially upgraded in the UCI points classification starting from the 2026 editions.
Under the new classification, the winners of the general classification in both races will receive 500 UCI points, placing the UAE Tour among the world’s leading multi-stage cycling races.
The classification jerseys for both tours will be sponsored by AD Ports Group for the red jersey awarded to the overall race leader, Mubadala for the green jersey awarded to the points classification leader, Aldar for the black jersey awarded to the intermediate sprints leader, and Burjeel Holdings for the white jersey awarded to the best young rider under the age of 23.
His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, expressed his appreciation to the UAE leadership for its continued support of the sports sector, noting that this support has enabled the UAE to strengthen its position as a global destination for hosting major international sporting events.
His Excellency said that the organisation of the UAE Tour Women and Men in cooperation with the UCI reflects the confidence placed in the UAE’s capabilities and highlights the prominent position of the two races on the international cycling calendar.
He also welcomed AD Ports Group as the main sponsor of the UAE Tour, noting that the partnership supports the continued growth of the event and enhances its international profile.
Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, said, “AD Ports Group firmly believes in the power of sport as a catalyst for positive societal impact and stronger community bonds. We highly value our partnership with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and reaffirm that our sponsorship of the UAE Tour aligns with the vision of our wise leadership to promote public health and a culture of sport. Furthermore, the UAE Tour serves as an international platform to showcase the UAE's cultural identity, while reflecting the values of discipline, endurance, and teamwork that underpin AD Ports Group’s role as a global enabler of trade and logistics.”
The Abu Dhabi Sports Council invited cycling fans in the UAE and around the world to follow the two events, noting that further details regarding participating teams and riders will be announced at a later date.