Dubai will stage L’Etape Dubai by Tour de France across Saturday, 24 January 2026 and Sunday, 25 January 2026, with the event village based at Expo Village Park, Expo City Dubai, Expo Road (E77), Dubai South. For venue and access support, Expo City Dubai’s Contact Centre lists 800 39762489 and connect@expocitydubai.ae. Because this weekend mixes family rides, kids races, and long-distance starts, you should plan your transport and timing as early as possible.
A Tour de France style weekend for amateurs
This is billed as the second edition of the region’s largest amateur-format Tour de France inspired race, and it is designed to feel like a mini festival rather than a single start line. Because the programme spreads across two days, you can treat Saturday as a family-friendly warm-up and Sunday as the serious effort day (family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo). Registration is required for every ride category, including family and kids options. Also, the organisers build the weekend around the same jersey culture and timed segments that fans associate with big European races.
Choosing a distance that fits your weekend
Four routes shape the schedule, and each one suits a different kind of rider. The shortest option is the Škoda Kids Race, listed as 300 metres to 1.8km on Saturday, 24 January 2026 at 9:00am, which makes it the easiest entry for young riders (family-friendly). Next comes the Škoda Family Ride, listed as 20km on Saturday, 24 January 2026 at 10:00am, and it is described as non-competitive, so it suits first-timers and casual cyclists (family-friendly). On Sunday, the main choices start at the same time, with the Classic Race 67km and the Epic Race 112km both listed for Sunday, 25 January 2026 at 7:00am, so your decision comes down to endurance and pacing. Pick your distance based on how early you can start and how long you want to ride in open-road conditions.
Saturday at Expo Village Park with family focus
Saturday reads like a festival day at Expo Village Park, and it starts early. The official programme lists event-village registration and activities from 8:00am, followed by the kids race at 9:00am and the family ride at 10:00am. Later in the afternoon, the schedule lists a bike-preparation workshop around 4:00pm, then a team introduction and coach recommendations, and a race briefing at 5:00pm. There is also a planned moment around 5:30pm for presenting cycling legends and event ambassadors, including Peter Sagan, which is the kind of crowd moment that draws spectators even if they are not racing. If you want the smoothest experience, treat Saturday morning as the main family window and Saturday late afternoon as the serious rider briefing window.
Sunday race morning starts away from Expo City
Sunday’s big detail surprises many first-timers, because the programme places the start-zone breakfast and roll-out in Dubai Design District (D3), while Expo Village Park acts as the finish-zone village. The official programme lists a 5:30am pre-race breakfast at D3, a short briefing around 6:15am, and rider roll-out around 6:45am for the second edition start, with Expo Village Park activities beginning from 8:00am as riders begin to finish. The same programme also lists expected finish times as early as 8:15am for the first Classic Race finisher and around 9:15am for the first Epic Race finisher, so spectators can time their morning around those windows. Do not assume you can reach the start via metro at dawn, because Sunday metro station opening hours typically begin later.
What your entry usually includes on race weekend
Organisers outline a starter package and on-course support that helps riders plan properly. The participant information describes entry benefits that can include race numbers, an event bottle, a roadbook, a finishing medal, and a finisher t-shirt for Classic and Epic participants, as well as mechanical and medical support, plus refreshment stations on the route and at the finish. Because these details can evolve close to race week, treat the package list as a guide and watch for any final operational updates before you travel. This matters most for riders who want to arrive light, because the availability of bag transfer and changing areas can change how you pack for the day.
Ticket prices and what approximately means here
The official Dubai events calendar lists ticket prices from approximately AED 60 to AED 493, which gives you a practical range for budgeting without overpromising a single fixed number. Because registrations can vary by category, timing, and availability, you should expect the fee to shift as the event approaches, especially for the longer distances. If you want the best chance of lower rates, register earlier rather than later and avoid unofficial resellers. For the most reliable purchase path, riders typically use the official registration route associated with the event and mainstream Dubai ticketing platforms when listed for the date.
Getting to Expo City with less parking stress
Expo City Dubai sits on Expo Road (E77) and connects easily from major corridors, so driving is straightforward, yet event mornings still create pinch points. The simplest low-stress choice for Saturday is often the metro, because the Expo 2020 station serves the Expo City area and puts you close to the site on foot. However, Sunday is different, because the start activity begins before many public transport schedules fully open, so most racers rely on driving, taxis, or organiser transport guidance for the start-zone movement. If you are only spectating on Sunday, you can still use Expo Village Park as your anchor, since the finish-zone village activity begins from 8:00am.
Arrival and return suggestions from nearby Emirates
If you drive from Abu Dhabi, you will likely approach via E11 and then connect toward Expo Road, so you should leave extra buffer time for early morning merges and any event traffic management near Expo City (suitable for couples, solo). If you come from Sharjah or Ajman, you may hit slower movement on E311 and E11 depending on your start time, so an earlier departure usually feels calmer, especially on Saturday when families arrive together. On Sunday, racers heading to Dubai Design District for the start-zone should plan for an even earlier departure, because the schedule begins before sunrise. For the return, consider leaving the immediate finish-zone crowd later in the morning, because post-finish pick-ups can feel busy when families and riders converge.
A practical weather, kit, and traffic note for race weekend
Dubai’s current forecast for Saturday, 24 January 2026 shows clouds and sun around 24°C, while Sunday, 25 January 2026 trends warmer with hazy sunshine around 27°C, and both nights sit near 17°C, so a light layer helps before sunrise and after cooling down. Because the Sunday schedule begins around 5:30am at D3, you should prepare for cooler early air, then warmer mid-morning conditions once you finish. Bring eye protection, hydration, and a simple post-ride layer, even if the day starts mild. Also, expect heavier traffic around Expo City and possible temporary traffic management along race corridors, so avoid last-minute driving decisions and keep your parking plan flexible. Prices and entry fees can change, so treat all figures as approximately, and use official registration routes and established ticketing partners such as PLATINUMLIST when they are listed for the event. According to the kind of practical event checks often referenced by the editor team at www.few.ae, confirming your start-zone and finish-zone logistics the night before can save your entire morning.
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