New 50km sand bike track to be built in Dubai

Circuit will be based in city's Mushrif Park

RAK Bank employees take part in The Nationals Cycle to Work day at Silicon Oasis in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

RAK Bank employees take part in The Nationals Cycle to Work day at Silicon Oasis in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National.

RAK Bank employees line up before setting off to take part in The Nationals Cycle to Work day at Silicon Oasis in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National.

Riders from ADCB gear up before cycling to work from Heritage Park in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National

Helmets in the back of a car as riders from ADCB get ready for cycle to work day. Christopher Pike / The National

Dubai resident Dave Aggabao Gomez takes a morning selfie on his #cycletoworkuae commute. Courtesy Dave Aggabao Gomez

Cyclists from ADCB get ready to cycling into work in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National

Cyclists from Total get ready to cycle into work. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

Bikes are stacked and ready to go as cyclists from Total get ready to cycle to work. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

Department of Transport employees take part in the Cycle To Work UAE 2016 initiative. Antonie Robertson / The National

Department of Transport employees take part in the Cycle To Work UAE 2016 initiative. Antonie Robertson / The National

Department of Transport employees set off to cycle to work. Antonie Robertson / The National

RAK Bank employees arrive at work after taking part in The Nationals Cycle to Work day. Pawan Singh / The National.

RAK Bank employees arrive at their office after taking part in The Nationals Cycle to Work day. Pawan Singh / The National

Department of Transport employees cycle to work. Antonie Robertson / The National

Department of Transport employees cycle to work. Antonie Robertson / The National

Canadian embassy staff set off to work from the Eastern Corniche. Delores Johnson / The National

Canadian embassy staff get ready to cycle to work on the Eastern Corniche. Delores Johnson / The National

Mark Graham and Marc Lorrain, both from the Canadian Embassy of Abu Dhabi arrive at the office after cycling to work. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

Salman Abdull Gani Shaikh says via Facebook: I am a solar engineer working for RENTECH Systems, a renewable energy company in Dubai and I participated in #cycletoworkuae Working in a renewable energy company, it's our responsibility to be at the forefront of such events.

Jr Angelito Cuizon Melo shares his cycling map and says via Facebook: Everyday I #cycletoworkuae

Preperations for the EU embassies ride on Abu Dhabi corniche. Christopher Pike / The National

Riders take part in the EU embassy ride on the Abu Dhabi Corniche for #cycletoworkuae. Christopher Pike / The National

Riders get ready on the Corniche. Christopher Pike / The National

Riders from the Dutch Embassy at the EU embassies #cycletoworkuae event in Abu Dhabi. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

Total staff take a moment on Abu Dhabi Corniche during their ride from the Hiltonia to Abu Dhabi Mall. Photo courtesy Ramesh Menon

Ronald Lavater, chief executive of Al Noor Hospitals Group and Donna Lunn, chief information officer arrive at Al Noor Hospital after participating in the cycle to work campaign. Courtesy Al Noor Hospitals

Al Ain Zoo management & staff participated with H.E. Director General Ghanim Al Hajeri in the The National newspaper “Cycle to work UAE” campaign. Courtesy Al Ain Zoo

Al Ain Zoo management & staff participated with H.E. Director General Ghanim Al Hajeri in the The National newspaper “Cycle to work UAE” campaign. Courtesy Al Ain Zoo

A group of cyclist take part of Dubai Desert Extreme morning ride to promote Cycle To Work campaign. Reem Mohammed / The National

A new 50km sand bike track will be built in Dubai’s Mushrif National Park, authorities have announced.

The project will help bring the total length of bike tracks in the emirate to 739km by 2026, as part of Dubai's Vision 2021 strategy to become a cycle-friendly city.

The new track will be set inside the park’s forest, which includes 70,000 trees.

“The first phase of the winding track, which is three metres wide, has the capacity to accommodate more than 3,000 cyclists per day,” said Dawoud Al Hajri, director general of Dubai Municipality.

“The track starts from near the main gate of the park and ends at the same point. It features three quick-return lanes linked to three rest stops, as well as two bike rental and repair shops.

“The rugged track provides an enjoyable riding experience even for beginners.”

He said the track represented a unique addition to the infrastructure projects, services and facilities being built by the Dubai government to encourage sports and recreational activities, and to improve living standards in the emirate.

The track is designed to appeal to both amateurs and professionals.

Three crossing bridges will be constructed as part of the project’s first phase, with a further seven to be built by the time the track is completed.

Dubai is constructing several new cycle paths this year as part of a Dh400 million ($108m) strategy to make cycling safer in the emirate.

In June, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced plans for a 16km track along Dubai's Jumeirah Beach

Once complete, it will connect the existing Jumeirah Street cycle track — parallel to the canal — with the track alongside Dubai internet City.