Dubai Ride participants turn the city's biggest roads into giant cycling track

The annual event was held as part of the ongoing Dubai Fitness Challenge

Cyclists traverse Sheikh Zayed Road as part of the Dubai Ride. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National

Cyclists rode past some of the city's landmarks.

Dubai Ride 2022 participants.

Authorities closed the busy 14-lane Sheikh Zayed Road for motorists between 4am and 9am.

Riders take selfies in front of Museum of the Future.

The Dubai Ride covered Sheikh Zayed Road between Trade Centre Roundabout and the Safa Park interchange, as well as Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai.

The event was open to cyclists of all ages and abilities.

The Dubai Ride began at 6.30am.

The free event is the largest for the cycling community in the emirate.

The RTA allowed participants who didn't have bikes to rent a Careem Bike for free at certain entrances of the race.

Families, recreational and professional cyclists take part in the Dubai Ride each year.

Sheikh Zayed Road is usually closed to cyclists.

Participants chose either a 4km or 12km route.

Thousands of people took part in annual Dubai Ride on the skyscraper-lined super-highway that cuts through the centre of the city.

Participants cycle past the Museum of the Future in the early hours of Sunday.

The Dubai Ride is a precursor to the Dubai Run, which follows a similar route.

A cyclist performs a stunt along Sheikh Zayed Road.

Dubai Police manage traffic for the Dubai Ride.

The Dubai Ride took place on both sides of Sheikh Zayed Road.

Riders captured in front of the Museum of the Future.

Participants after the event.

The Dubai Ride transformed the city's major roads into a giant cycling track.

Cyclists ride on Sheikh Zayed Road.

A cycling group taking part in the Dubai Ride.

The ride began in the early hours.

The event takes place as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

Dubai Fitness Challenge encourages the city’s residents to commit to 30 minutes of daily activity for 30 days.

The Dubai Ride takes place annually.

Thousands of cyclists had turned some of the UAE's biggest and busiest roads into a giant cycling track for Dubai Ride in the early hours of Sunday. The free annual event, held as part of the month-long Dubai Fitness Challenge, is the largest for the cycling community in the emirate, and is open to those of all abilities.

Authorities had announced the closure of the busy 14-lane Sheikh Zayed Road for motorists between 4am and 9am. The closure affected parts of the motorway between Trade Centre Roundabout and the Safa Park interchange, as well as Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai.

Dubai Ride began at 6.30am with participants choosing either a four-kilometre or 12km route. Families, as well as recreational and professional cyclists, rode past some of the city's landmarks, including the Museum of the Future, Dubai Water Canal and Burj Khalifa.

This year, the Roads and Transport Authority allowed participants who didn't have bikes to rent a Careem Bike for free at certain entrances of the race.

A total of 34,897 cyclists took part this year, organisers said.

Dubai Run, which will follow a similar route, will also return as part of Dubai Fitness Challenge, on November 20.

Championed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, this is the sixth year the Dubai Fitness Challenge has been held, encouraging the city’s residents to commit to 30 minutes of daily activity for 30 days. The citywide campaign runs until November 27.

More information and a schedule of events is available at dubaifitnesschallenge.com