Dubai to build new cycling paths in Barsha 1 and 2

Work on building the bike paths will start in Q3 of this year and it will take 12 months to complete the project

Al Qudra cycling track is the longest circuit in Dubai. AFP

Nad Al Sheba is home to a former camel track that now offers cyclists 13km of pathway, with views of Downtown Dubai and Burj Khalifa. Pawan Singh / The National

Dubai Autodrome in Motor City also offers a private 2.4km circuit that's good for beginners and veterans alike. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

A 19km bike track connects Al Khawaneej community to the Mushrif Park pathway. Pawan Singh / The National

Bikers can head to Jumeirah Beach, where a recently completed 16km track extends alongside the shoreline. Sarah Dea / The National

Meydan cycling track is good for families. Victor Besa / The National

Dubai Water Canal has cycling lanes. Pawan Singh / The National

Al Barsha Pond Park also boasts dedicated cycling lanes. Satish Kumar / The National

Al Warqa in Ras Al Khor has shaded cycling lanes. Satish Kumar / The National

The cycle track in Mushrif Park. Antonie Robertson / The National

Expo 2020 Dubai has 10km of cycling tracks, plus bikes for hire and shaded bike stops. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dubai Marina and JBR have dedicated cycling lanes. Satish Kumar / The National

Hatta is a paradise for mountain bikers. Getty Images

New bike paths will be built in Dubai's Barsha 1 and 2 districts in the latest stage of the city's cycling network.

Work on the tracks will start this autumn and the project is scheduled to be finished about 12 months later, the Roads and Transport Authority said on Sunday.

The agency is also assessing building cycling paths in eight other districts: Al Ras, Al Bateen, Al Daghaya, Eyal Nasser, Al Souq Al Kabeer, Hor Al Anz, Abu Hail and Al Sabkha.

The aim is to have cycling tracks in 29 city districts by the end of 2026.

Dubai has been pressing ahead with its goal to promote the city as a cyclists' haven, with plans to expand the tracks from 463 kilometres to 759km by 2026 in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.

There are more than 20 dedicated cycling tracks in areas such as Downtown Dubai, Dubai Water Canal, Al Sufouh, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Road, Al Quoz, Oud Metha, Expo 2020 Dubai and Nad Al Sheba, to name a few.

There are also almost 800 bicycles available to rent from more than 70 bike rental stations in areas from JLT to Barsha Heights and Downtown Dubai to Al Karama.

Across the city, there are closed-loop circuits, as well as public tracks that extend through entire neighbourhoods. There are also special cycling lanes in several public parks, including Al Barsha Pond Park, Mushrif Park and the Quranic Park.

“The expansion is [based on] the excellent results of the initial phase of the project, which covered Al Qusais 1, Al Mankhool and Al Karama," said Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of RTA's board of executive directors.

"The number of cycling trips at Al Qusais 1 doubled from 1,173 journeys in 2020 to 2,346 journeys in 2021.

"During the same period, the number of cycling trips increased by 23 per cent in Karama and 12 per cent in Mankhool."

Here are eight popular cycling spots in Dubai

Al Qudra

The longest cycling track in Dubai is in Al Qudra and this is where you will spot professional athletes alongside amateur cyclists. Surrounded by desert vistas, the 135km track spans from Al Barari to Bab Al Shams along Al Qudra Street.

There are two paths here: a shorter 18km one, plus a 50km path.

Bikes are available to rent.

Hatta

Mountain bikers will want to head to Hatta, where a dedicated 52km trail has four different levels for cyclists of varying abilities.

Bikes and other essentials are also available to hire.

Nad Al Sheba

This former camel track now offers cyclist 13km of pathway, with views of Downtown Dubai and Burj Khalifa.

It is located near to the Meydan Racecourse and features 4km, 6km and 8km loops, with a track for children, too.

The Dubai Autodrome

It may be a motorsport venue, but Dubai Autodrome in Motor City also offers a private 2.4km circuit that is suitable for beginners and veterans alike.

Al Khawaneej

A 19km bike track connects Al Khawaneej community to the Mushrif Park pathway.

Jumeirah

Bikers can head to Jumeirah Beach, where a recently completed 16km track extends alongside the shoreline, connecting the existing Jumeirah Street bike path that runs parallel to the Dubai Water Canal and the track in Dubai Internet City.

Expo 2020 Dubai

More than 10km of cycling tracks were designed specifically for travelling around Expo 2020 Dubai and 230 bicycles are available to rent across 23 stations on the site, with more than 160 shaded bike stops in the area. These can be booked through the Careem Bike App.

Mushrif National Park

The first phase of a project to build a 50km sand bike track in Mushrif National Park has been completed. The track, which currently spans 20km, is set amid the area's foliage-filled forest, where there are about 70,000 trees.

Sheikh Hamdan cycles through Mushrif National Park - in pictures