Abu Dhabi to host the 2028 UCI Road World Championships and the 2029 UCI Track World Championships

Abu Dhabi succeeded in winning the right to host both the 2028 UCI Road World Championships and the 2029 UCI Track World Championships, the ‘Capital of Sports’ earning the confidence of the Union Cyclist Internationale (UCI) in their ability to organise the two Championships.

His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, praised the capital city’s success in securing the hosting rights.

He further emphasised that the sport has always received the support and interest of the wise leadership, as part of the boundless efforts of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, to make the capital city a destination for sports lovers in general and cycling in particular.

Abu Dhabi's sports infrastructure has made it a leading example of top-level international sports event organisation.

His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, received the Jerseys of Abu Dhabi hosting the two UCI World Championships, on the side-lines of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, being held in Glasgow and across Scotland (Great Britain), from August 3 to 13.

Abu Dhabi's hosting of the two UCI World Championships comes at a time when the capital is witnessing a quantum leap in the field of cycling, both in terms of infrastructure and the number of events hosted, particularly last year when Abu Dhabi successfully organised the 2022 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships as part of Bike Abu Dhabi Week.

Abu Dhabi, which is the only Asian city to win the title of the UCI Bike City Label, has also succeeded in organising the UAE Tour, the only global tour in the Middle East.

The capital’s hosting of the 2028 UCI Road World Championships and the 2029 UCI Track World Championships is an enhancement of its capabilities in charting indicators of success at its highest levels and contributes to the promotion of sports tourism in the region.

UCI President David Lappartient said: “Abu Dhabi possesses extensive experience hosting major sports events and is constantly extending and upgrading its cycling infrastructure. After the highly successful UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in 2022, I am convinced that this UCI Bike City will also be an excellent host of the world’s best road cyclists in 2028 and track cyclists in 2029.”

The history of the UCI Track World Championships dates back to 1893, while the world has witnessed an annual organisation of the UCI Road World Championships since 1921.