Dubai looks like a city of cars and wide highways, but there are more cyclists here every year. The city already has hundreds of kilometres of dedicated cycling tracks: along the sea, through the desert, around the racecourse and up in the Hatta mountains. Many tracks are free, floodlit and have showers at the start.
If you love cycling, one morning ride fits easily into even a short trip. Below I explain which Dubai cycling tracks suit your level, where to get a bike, which rules apply and when to ride so the heat doesn’t catch you.
In short
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many tracks | 636 km at the end of 2025; RTA aims for 1,000 km by 2030 |
| For visitors | The Jumeirah Beach track: flat, 16 km, rental nearby |
| For training | Al Qudra in the desert, Nad Al Sheba by Meydan Racecourse |
| Mountain biking | Mushrif Hub in the city, the Hatta trails in the mountains |
| Rental | Careem Bike (200+ stations), rental points at the sports tracks |
| Mandatory | Helmet and reflective vest |
| Best season | October to April, in the morning or after sunset |
How the cycling network works
Dubai’s cycling tracks are run by RTA, the Roads and Transport Authority. According to RTA, the network grew to 636 km by the end of 2025 (from 560 km a year earlier), and residents made 57.3 million bike trips during 2025. In 2025 Dubai entered the top 100 of the Copenhagenize index of bicycle-friendly cities, the first in the Middle East to do so.
The network keeps growing. Under RTA’s plan, 15 new tracks with a combined length of 162 km are being built, and 13 of them were finished by spring 2026. They include tracks in Al Khawaneej 2 (8 km) and Al Barsha 2 (10.5 km), and a 13.5 km route along Hessa Street that will link Al Sufouh with Dubai Hills via bridges over Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. RTA planned to open them in the second quarter of 2026; if you’re heading for a specific new track, check that it’s open.
It helps to know that Dubai’s cycling tracks come in two kinds. Some are urban, along streets and waterfronts, for riding to the metro or a gentle outing. Others are out-of-town sports tracks for long training rides. For a visitor, the most interesting are the beach, the canal and a couple of sports tracks.
The best routes
| Route | Length | Surface | Who for | Facilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jumeirah Beach and Kite Beach | 16 km | Asphalt | Beginners, families, visitors | Careem Bike stations, cafes, beaches, Burj Al Arab view |
| Dubai Water Canal | Promenades along the canal | Paving and asphalt | Evening rides | Cafes, lighting, link to the Jumeirah track |
| Nad Al Sheba (Meydan) | Loops of 4, 6 and 8 km | Asphalt | All levels, evenings | Lighting, changing rooms, showers, rental and repairs |
| Al Qudra | 80.6 km, 135 km with branches | Asphalt | Experienced riders, long rides | Rest areas, cafes, rental, emergency phones |
| Mushrif and Al Khawaneej | 50 km of mountain trails at Mushrif Hub | Dirt, sand | Mountain biking, kids | Rental, showers, cafes, kids track |
| Hatta | Several dozen km of mountain trails | Dirt, rock | Mountain biking, intermediate and up | Rental at Hatta Wadi Hub, season October to May |
Jumeirah Beach and Kite Beach
This is the route I suggest to anyone who simply wants to ride by the sea. In 2022 RTA opened a dedicated 16 km cycling track along Jumeirah Beach. The first section, 4 metres wide, runs parallel to the running track from Dubai Water Canal to Umm Suqeim Park, past Sunset Mall, the open beach, the yacht club and Kite Beach. The second section continues along Jumeirah Street and King Salman Street to Dubai Internet City.
The speed limit here is 20 km/h, so it’s not a training track but an easy ride with stops for coffee and a swim. The Burj Al Arab is in view ahead the whole way. You can pick up a bike at a Careem Bike station right by the track.
Dubai Water Canal
The canal promenades are a favourite spot for an evening walk or ride: water, bridges and the lit-up towers of Business Bay. The Jumeirah Beach track starts from the canal, so the two rides combine easily into one. There are plenty of pedestrians on the promenade, so stay in the cycle lane and keep your speed down.
The Dubai Water Canal promenade, where the cycling track to Jumeirah Beach begins. Photo: Renek78, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Nad Al Sheba and Meydan
Nad Al Sheba Cycle Park sits next to Meydan Racecourse on a former camel track, with views of Downtown and the Burj Khalifa. It has three loops of 4, 6 and 8 km, changing rooms with showers, lockers, a cafe, bike rental and repairs. Its big advantage is that the track is floodlit, so people ride here in the evening and even in summer after sunset. The Meydan Track through District One branches off from it.
Sources give different opening hours; usually the track is open from early morning to late evening. Check before you go, and bring your own bike lights just in case.
Al Qudra
Al Qudra Cycling Track is Dubai’s main sports track. Guinness World Records recognised it as the longest continuous cycling track: 80.6 km, and with its branches the network reaches 135 km. The track runs through the desert with no cars and no traffic lights. I wrote about the track, the lakes, the flamingos and the picnic rules in my guide to the Al Qudra Lakes.
Beginners shouldn’t attempt the whole loop straight away: there’s almost no shade on the track and the nearest cafe can be a long way off. Start with a short out-and-back section.
Mushrif and Al Khawaneej
For mountain biking within the city there’s Mushrif Hub in Mushrif Park: 50 km of trails at three levels, rental, showers, cafes and a separate kids track. I cover all of it in my guide to Mushrif Park. Asphalt cycling tracks also lead out of the park north towards Al Khawaneej and south towards Al Warqa, if you’d like an easy ride through the city.
Hatta
Hatta is Dubai’s mountain enclave, about 90 minutes from the city. It has colour-coded mountain bike trails of varying difficulty; official figures for their length differ (usually 30–50 km), so check the map at Hatta Wadi Hub. The trails are free and open all year, and the hub rents bikes with protective gear, but go between October and April: the mountains are just as hot in summer. I explain how to combine cycling with kayaking on the dam in my guide to Hatta from Dubai.
Where to get a bike
- Careem Bike. The city bike-share, with pedal-assist e-bikes. According to RTA, it has more than 200 stations around the city, including along the Jumeirah Beach track at Sunset Mall, Al Manara Mosque and Umm Suqeim Park. You unlock a bike through the Careem app with a bank card. A ride is priced for 45 minutes, with a surcharge after that. Fares and passes change, so check them in the app.
- Rental at the sports tracks. Al Qudra, Nad Al Sheba, Mushrif Hub and Hatta Wadi Hub all have rental points, where you can get a better road or mountain bike than a city one.
- Your own bike. Many residents carry their bike on the car. If you’re here for a longer stay, it’s the most convenient option for Al Qudra and Hatta.
Rules and fines
The rules for bicycles, e-bikes and scooters in Dubai are set out in Executive Council Resolution No. 13 of 2022. The essentials:
- a helmet and a reflective vest are mandatory, including for a passenger;
- no riding on roads with a speed limit above 60 km/h: 300 AED fine;
- no riding or leaving your bike on pedestrian and running paths: 200 AED;
- riding off the cycling track, without a helmet or vest, or against the traffic: 200 AED each;
- speeding on a cycling track: 100 AED; dangerous riding: 300 AED;
- children under 12 ride a bike only with an adult; e-bikes and scooters are for 16 and over;
- for a repeat offence within a year, the bike can be impounded for 30 days.
E-scooters. You may ride only in zones RTA has approved, for example Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, JLT, Dubai Internet City, the Palm, Kite Beach, the canal and Dubai Marina. You need a free RTA permit, the limit is 20 km/h and passengers aren’t allowed (300 AED fine). Only folding scooters are allowed on the metro and tram. Some districts and sports tracks set their own restrictions, so watch the signs.
Heat, season and riding at night
The best season for cycling is October to April. Even in winter the daytime sun is strong, so set off at sunrise and finish by 9–10 in the morning, or ride after sunset. In summer, daytime cycling is dangerous: ride only early in the morning or at night.
For evening and night rides, choose the floodlit tracks: Nad Al Sheba, the canal promenades and the beach track. Don’t go out on Al Qudra in the dark without a powerful light and experience. In any season, carry enough water for the whole route plus at least one spare bottle.
Dubai Ride: cycling down Sheikh Zayed Road
Once a year the city’s main highway is handed over to cyclists. Dubai Ride 2026 takes place on 1 November as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge. There are two routes: a 4 km family loop through Downtown past the Burj Khalifa, and 12 km along Sheikh Zayed Road to Safa Park and back. Taking part is free, with registration at dubairide.com. You need your own bike and a helmet; e-bikes are allowed, scooters aren’t. The start is early in the morning, with arrival between 4:00 and 6:00. If your trip falls on that date, it’s a rare chance to ride Dubai’s most famous road.
A plan: a morning on the bike
A realistic option for a visitor from October to April:
- 6:30: start at Dubai Water Canal or Sunset Mall, picking up a bike at a Careem Bike station.
- 6:30–8:00: Jumeirah Beach to Kite Beach and Umm Suqeim Park, with photo stops for the Burj Al Arab.
- 8:00–9:00: breakfast at a cafe by Kite Beach; drop the bike at the nearest station.
- 9:00–10:00: a swim while it’s still not hot.
- Evening: Nad Al Sheba for anyone who wants another ride, this time on a floodlit track.
If you’d prefer mountain biking, swap the morning for Mushrif Hub; for a long training ride, head out to Al Qudra at sunrise.
Common mistakes
- Riding in the middle of the day. Even in November the midday sun wears you out quickly. Morning or evening.
- Riding without a helmet. A helmet and vest are mandatory, with a 200 AED fine.
- Riding on the running track or the pavement. Only on the cycling track, or that’s a fine too.
- Underestimating Al Qudra. It’s the desert: little shade and help is far away. Take plenty of water.
- Not checking a new track. The network is growing fast, but opening dates slip. Before you set off for a new track, check that it’s open.
More weekend ideas: Parks in Dubai · Mushrif Park · Best walks in Dubai · Splash parks for kids · Beach clubs · Padel in Dubai · Tennis courts · Al Qudra Lakes.
A bike is a good way to see Dubai from somewhere other than a car window: the sea, the desert and the skyscrapers in a single morning. If you’d like to combine an active day with a tour of the city, message me on WhatsApp and I’ll put together a route for your dates and interests.
Practical answers
Frequently asked questions
Where can tourists go cycling in Dubai?
The easiest place is the cycling track along Jumeirah Beach: it is flat, 16 km long and has Careem Bike rental next to it. For a long training ride, people go to Al Qudra; in the evening, to the floodlit Nad Al Sheba track; for mountain biking, to Mushrif or Hatta.
Do you need a helmet to cycle in Dubai?
Yes. A helmet and a reflective vest are mandatory under Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 13 of 2022. The fine for riding without them is 200 AED. Bring your own helmet or check with the rental operator.
Can you cycle on regular roads in Dubai?
Not on roads with a speed limit above 60 km/h: the fine is 300 AED. Ride on the cycling tracks; riding on pedestrian and running paths carries a 200 AED fine.
How do I rent a bike in Dubai?
The easiest way is through the Careem app: Careem Bike has more than 200 stations around the city. Al Qudra, Nad Al Sheba, Mushrif and Hatta have their own rental points. Prices change, so check them in the app or on site.
When is the best time to cycle in Dubai?
From October to April, in the morning before 9–10 or after sunset. In summer, ride only at sunrise or at night, ideally on floodlit tracks such as Nad Al Sheba.
Can you ride an e-scooter on Dubai cycling tracks?
Only in the zones RTA has approved for scooters, and with a free RTA permit. You must be 16 or older and keep under 20 km/h. Don't take a scooter to the out-of-town sports tracks: they have their own rules.
