UAE Tour

Where: United Arab Emirates

When: 20-26 February 2023

Distance: 1,028km

Rank: UCI WorldTour

The UAE Tour is the result of a merger between the Abu Dhabi Tour and the Dubai Tour, and is one of the first events on the year's UCI WorldTour calendar. 

Now in its fifth edition, the UAE Tour comprises a seven-day stage race starting on Monday 20 February and finishing on Sunday 26 February. 

Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) won the inaugural UAE Tour in 2019, with Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) claiming the 2020 title. In the last two editions of the race, Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates) has taken back-to-back victories in the desert.

Previous champions of the Dubai Tour include Mark Cavendish, Elia Viviani and Marcel Kittel, with the event predominantly favouring sprinters. Comparatively, the Abu Dhabi Tour was more one for the climbers, thanks to the pivotal climb of the 10.8 kilometre Jebel Hafeet. In 2018, Alejandro Valverde scooped up the win.

In 2023, race organisers Abu Dhabi Sports Council will run the first ever women's edition of the race, taking place over four stages from 9-12 February.  

UAE Tour 2023 route

The route for the 2023 UAE Tour will play out over seven days, taking in 1,028km and two summit finishes.

The race will open in the Abu Dhabi desert, travelling from Al Dhafra Castle to Al Mirfa on flat, straight roads. 

On day two, the riders will tackle a team time trial - the race's first since its inaugural edition in 2019. Starting and finishing in Khalifa Port, the 17.2km circuit bears only a handful of bends, promising a fast course, as long as the the cross winds don’t pick up.

The first mountain test comes on stage three, the tour's longest day at 185km, with a finish atop Jebel Jais. On stage four, the peloton moves to Dubai, with another chance for the sprinters at the city’s harbour.

It’s back to the desert motorways on stage five. The course from Al Marjan Island to Umm al Quwain is void of obstacles and should give the fastmen a third shot at victory.

The penultimate day will see the peloton return to Abu Dhabi, departing from Warner Bros Island and heading north, before circling back to the coastal breakwater.

Finally, on stage seven, the race will be decided at the summit of the near 11km-long Jebel Hafeet, the country’s most famed peak. It was on this climb's 11% pitches that Pogačar sealed victory in 2022.

Stage details

Stage 1: Al Dhafra Castle - Al Mirfa (151km)

Stage 2: Khalifa Port - Khalifa Port TTT (17.2km)

Stage 3: Umbrella Beach Al Fujairah – Jebel Jais (185km)

Stage 4: Al Shindagha – Dubai Harbour (174km)

Stage 5: Al Marjan Island – Umm al Quwain (182km)

Stage 6: Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi Breakwater (166km)

Stage 7: Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium – Jebel Hafeet (153km)

UAE Tour recent winners

2022: Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates)

2021: Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates)

2020: Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott)

2019: Primož Roglič (Team Jumbo-Visma)

Abu Dhabi Tour recent winners

2018: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team)

2017: Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates)

2016: Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team)

2015: Esteban Chaves (Orica–GreenEDGE)

Dubai Tour recent winners

2018: Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors)

2017: Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors)

2016: Marcel Kittel (Etixx–Quick-Step)

2015: Mark Cavendish (Etixx–Quick-Step)

2014: Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing Team)

Watch the UAE Tour

It is expected Eurosport and GCN Race Pass will broadcast the 2023 UAE Tour.

You'll find the TV guide here when details become available.

Official race links

UAE Tour official website

UAE Tour official Twitter feed