11th edition of Sharjah Tour to kick off from Flag Island, featuring 162 riders

 The organizing committee of the Sharjah International Cycling Tour has announced the details of the 11th edition of prestigious Sharjah International Cycling Tour.

The annual event will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.

The committee stated that the new edition will take place from January 23 to 27, featuring 162 cyclists representing 27 teams and national squads from 18 countries.

The total distance will be 503 kilometers, spread over five stages. Additionally, two local races for the disabled and youth will be held during the third stage, alongside accompanying recreational and entertainment events.

The details were revealed during the presence conference held at the Sharjah Falconers Club.

Sheikh Dr. Khalid Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council; Abdullah Sultan Al Dah, Member of the Sharjah Sports Council and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Tour; Mansour Bou Osaiba, President of the UAE Cycling Federation; Dr. Ashraf Mohamed, Secretary-General of the Arab Cycling Federation; Mohamed Obaid Al Hassan, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Sports Council; Major General Saif Al Zarai Al Shamsi, former Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police; Dr. Yasser Omar Al-Dokhi, Tour Director; as well as numerous representatives from sponsoring and supporting institutions were present on the occasion.

Abdullah Sultan Al Dah, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, delivered a speech welcoming the delegations of participating teams and national squads in the major international event linked to the emirate. He emphasized the commitment to exert maximum efforts to maintain organizational excellence and to continue promoting tourism to Sharjah’s most prominent landmarks.

He also noted the introduction of new routes in this edition that will pass through diverse areas combining heritage and modernity.

Following this, a documentary about last year’s edition was shown. Dr. Yasser Omar Al Dokhi then briefed attendees on the tour’s details and key statistics, presenting the names of participating teams and national squads along with their countries.

UAE Team Emirates Gen-Z (UAE) ; TSG Terengganu Cycling Team (Malaysia) ;

Roojai Insurance Winspace (Thailand);

MBH Bank Ballan CSB (Hungary); Toscana Factory Devo Team (Italy) ; Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediye Spor Turkiye (Turkey); Universe Cycling Team (Netherlands); Kinan Racing Team (Japan)

Factor Racing by Cycling Team Kranj (Slovenia)

Li Ning Star (China); and Haute-Savoie (France) are in the fray.

UAE clubs taking part in the event are Sharjah, Khorfakkan, Dubai Police, Abu Dhabi Cycling, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Al Nasr, Jadeefa, and Airwerks Cycling Team. Qatar Pro Team and Obidos Cycling Club are also taking part.

The Sharjah Tour features dedicated national teams from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, Tunisia, and Rwanda.

Overall, the 2026 event brings together riders and teams from across four continents, representing countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Slovenia, Portugal, Hungary, Turkey, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Tunisia, and Rwanda.

The 2026 tour spans five exciting stages across Sharjah and the wider emirate, each highlighting unique landmarks and cultural themes.

Stage 1, on Friday, January 23, covers 129.6 km from Flag Island to Wheat Farm in Mleiha, under the theme “Pride and Giving”, celebrating national pride and the emirate’s agricultural self-sufficiency.

Stage 2, on Saturday, January 24, spans 129.56 km from Al Jubail Market in Sharjah to Al Jubail Market in Kalba, named “Al Jubail” in honor of the region’s iconic markets with striking Islamic architectural designs.

Stage 3, on Sunday, January 25, is a 9.81 km individual time trial in the historic town of Al Heera, starting at 11am and preceded by youth and disabled races, highlighting the town’s restored heritage under the theme “Al Heera”.

Stage 4, on Monday, January 26, covers 133 km from Diba Al Hisn Island to Al Suhub Rest Area in Khorfakkan, named “Eastern Region” for its scenic route along the eastern coast, passing through Diba Al Hisn, Kalba, and Khorfakkan. The tour concludes with Stage 5 on Tuesday, January 27, a 100.99 km journey from Sharjah Falconers Club to Sharjah Grand Mosque, under the theme “Heritage and Civilization”, showcasing the emirate’s falconry traditions and Islamic architectural heritage.