The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai), in collaboration with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Sports Council, has launched the “Dubai Cycling Pass” initiative Under the Slogan “From the Airport to the Track,”. The initiative reflects GDRFA Dubai’s commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle, encouraging the community to adopt sports as a way of life, and linking sporting experiences with the discovery of the emirate’s landmarks through an innovative approach that combines digital and on-ground experiences. This supports the promotion of Dubai as a global destination for sports, wellbeing, and quality of life.
The first phase of the initiative was launched on Saturday, 10 January 2026, from the Nad Al Sheba Cycling Track, in the presence of His Excellency Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai; His Excellency Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department; and His Excellency Engineer Mansour Buasaiba, Chairman of the UAE Cycling Federation. The event was also attended by Major General Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, Deputy Director General of GDRFA Dubai, assistant directors general, representatives of government entities and partners, as well as sports and community figures.
The launch day witnessed wide participation from citizens, residents, tourists, and cycling enthusiasts, with hundreds of participants engaging in on-ground activities in an atmosphere that embodied the spirit of the initiative and its community and tourism objectives.
The initiative aims to connect sports with everyday life in the city by introducing residents, visitors, and tourists to an integrated network of nine approved cycling tracks distributed across various areas of the Emirate of Dubai.
The tracks were carefully selected to suit different skill levels, ranging from amateurs and families to professional cyclists, offering everyone a comprehensive sporting and tourism experience that reflects Dubai’s diversity and the richness of its urban and natural environments.
The tracks include Nad Al Sheba – Meydan Track, Mushrif Park Track, Jumeirah Corniche Track, Al Qudra / Saih Al Salam Track, Dubai Marina Track, Al Khawaneej Track, Dubai Water Canal Track, Mushrif Mountain Bike Track, and Hatta Mountain Bike Track, forming a journey that extends from the heart of the city to mountainous and natural terrains, and highlighting the diversity of cycling options available across the emirate.
Commenting on the initiative, His Excellency Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, said:
“At GDRFA Dubai, we are keen to ensure that our initiatives remain close to people and aligned with the details of their daily lives. Our role is not limited to entry and residency services; it extends to accompanying individuals throughout their journey in Dubai and enhancing their quality of life. The Dubai Cycling Pass represents a practical model for linking digital transformation with a healthy and active lifestyle, and opens new horizons for residents, visitors, and tourists to explore Dubai in a different way that reflects its vision as a people-centric and sustainable city.”
He further highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships in supporting community initiatives, expressing appreciation for the cooperation with Dubai Police General Headquarters, Dubai Holding Asset Management – Nad Al Sheba Park, private sector partners represented by DX Bike, and all strategic partners, whose active contributions played a key role in the success of the initiative.
In this context, His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, praised the initiative, affirming that it contributes to achieving sports and community objectives and enhances the health and happiness of community members by facilitating access to a modern and safe cycling network extending hundreds of kilometers across the emirate. He noted that cycling enjoys strong support from the UAE’s wise leadership due to its positive impact on healthy lifestyles, and highlighted the Council’s commitment to strengthening partnerships that support the sport.
For his part, His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, stated that the initiative reflects Dubai’s direction toward encouraging residents and visitors to adopt an active and healthy lifestyle as an integral part of the city’s identity. He emphasized that developing sports infrastructure and implementing high-impact initiatives, including the Dubai Cycling Pass, enhance Dubai’s tourism appeal and reinforce the message that health and wellbeing are accessible to all within an integrated urban experience.
The initiative is built around an interactive digital experience that allows participants to document their achievements through a digital cycling passport, through which they receive virtual stamps upon completing each track. This enhances the spirit of exploration and transforms cycling into a motivating and continuous experience. In parallel, the initiative offers a dedicated on-ground experience for professional cyclists through a physical passport with actual stamps, in addition to symbolic rewards for the most active participants.
The initiative’s activities are implemented in phases, with each phase highlighting one cycling track as a focal point for gathering and on-ground participation, thereby strengthening community engagement and encouraging participants to take part collectively and in an organized manner.
The Dubai Cycling Pass initiative comes as an extension of GDRFA Dubai’s commitment to delivering innovative initiatives that enrich the experience of residents and visitors, support the UAE’s vision of promoting sports as a way of life, and reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading global destination for evolving urban, sports, and tourism experiences.
