Dubai: A 17km mountain bike trail will open in Hatta, south of Dubai, on February 13, the Dubai Municipality said.
Cutting through picturesque mountains and valleys, the trial will be inaugurated by a six-hour race, which falls on a Friday.
Hatta is about 110km south of Dubai and a popular tourist destination known for its rugged terrain, springs, and small-town traditional life and local heritage.
The municipality’s Hatta centre will throw open the trial and organise the race. There will be prizes and draws throughout the day. It is being billed as the “toughest mountain bike race in the UAE”.
Omar Saeed Al Mutaiwe’e, head of the municipality’s Hatta centre, said the municipality is launching the trail to encourage people to be healthy and enjoy the natural attractions and local culture of the area.
Residents have been invited to register for the race on www.hattamtb.ae. Entry is free.
The contest is being held under the patronage of the Zabeel Office For His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The race will be held in five categories – men’s solo, women’s solo, men’s team, women’s team and mixed team. Teams can have only have two members.
The Hatta Mountain Bike Trail Centre is a community-driven initiative between the Hatta section of Dubai Municipality and a few members of HOT-COG-MTB, a Dubai-based mountain bike club.
