A New UAE Cycling Partnership, and How to Start Riding

What the partnership actually is

Signed on 13 August 2026 in Dubai, the agreement pairs the UAE development group AYAT Group with the Airwerks Racing Team to expand cycling across road, mountain bike, gravel, criterium and desert racing. On paper it covers race programmes, digital platforms and community-health initiatives; in plain terms, it is money and organisation aimed at getting more people on bikes, developing Emirati riders and encouraging female participation. As an AYAT board member put it, cycling “brings people together, encourages an active lifestyle, and creates a strong sense of community.” It is one of several recent moves — clubs, sponsors and authorities all leaning the same way — quietly turning cycling from a weekend hobby into part of the national fitness furniture.

Why cycling suits the UAE right now

The timing is not an accident. As the summer heat starts to ease, the country's dedicated cycle tracks come back to life in the cooler early mornings, and cycling becomes one of the most accessible ways to be active outdoors. It is low-impact, it is social, and it scales from a gentle spin to a serious endurance session without changing anything except effort. A partnership like this one is a signal that the infrastructure and the community around it are only going to grow.

How to actually start cycling for fitness

You do not need a carbon race bike or a team kit. Here is the honest on-ramp:

• Borrow before you buy. Rental bikes at the main cycle tracks let you find out whether you enjoy it before spending anything.
• Ride when it is cool. Early morning is safest and most comfortable; carry more water than you think you need.
• Use the dedicated tracks first. Purpose-built cycle loops keep you away from traffic while you build confidence and handling.
• Build the engine indoors too. On a hot day or a rushed morning, an indoor conditioning session keeps the fitness ticking over so your outdoor rides feel easier.

Consistency beats intensity at the start. Three easy rides a week will do more than one heroic effort that leaves you too sore to go again.

What cycling builds that gym cardio doesn't

A treadmill and a bike both raise your heart rate, but cycling adds things a gym machine cannot. It is genuinely low-impact, so it spares the knees and hips that running can nag. It builds real-world endurance — the kind that makes a long day on your feet easier — and it does it outdoors, where daylight and fresh air do their own quiet work on mood and sleep. It is also a skill: balance, cornering and pacing all improve with practice in a way that walking on a belt does not. None of that replaces strength work — the two complement each other, which is why many riders pair their week with a gym membership for the leg and core strength that makes climbing hills easier.

Turn the pedals at GymNation

You do not have to wait for a cool morning to feel what cycling can do. Our indoor cycle (RPM) class gives you the same lungs-and-legs workout in an air-conditioned room, set to music and led by a coach who keeps the effort honest — a way to build the base now and hit the tracks stronger when the season opens. With no contract options to sign, it is just a saddle and 45 minutes.

Sources:
albayan.ae
zawya.com

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.