The UCI Mobility and Bike City Forum 2024 kicks off in Abu Dhabi tomorrow

The UCI Mobility and Bike City Forum (Abu Dhabi 2024), organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in cooperation with the International Cycling Union, commences tomorrow, Wednesday, 18 December, and continues until 19 December. This marks the first time that the Forum will be held in Asia and in the UAE specifically.

The sixth session of the Forum covers four main themes: the impact of cyclists as champions of change, cycling cities around the world, cycling towards a sustainable future, and strategies for the growth of sports tourism.

The event, which is held annually to support sustainable mobility and enhance the contribution of cycling to global sustainable development work, brings together the transportation and cycling community, representatives of the International Cycling Union, international and continental federations, representatives of the host country, sports industry experts, advocates for cycling as a means of transportation, and sports industry experts. It will also feature a group of experts who will offer practical insights into the initiatives, strategies and partnerships being implemented around the world by cycling stakeholders.

This year’s edition is the Forum’s sixth, having previously been held in Milan, Italy in 2018, Paris, France in 2019, Odense, Denmark in 2021, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom in 2022, and Bruges, Belgium in 2023.

The Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the International Cycling Union have confirmed the venue for the Forum’s first day, which is the Bab Al Qasr Hotel, while the second day of the Forum, which will feature interactive workshops and cycling tours, will be held at the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club on Al Hudayriat Island.

On the first day of the Forum, His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, will deliver a welcoming speech, as will David Lappartient, President of the International Cycling Union, and His Excellency Dr. Saif Al Nasseri, Undersecretary of the Department of Municipalities and Transport. Following them will be Safiya Al Sayegh, a member of the UAE National Cycling Team, the first professional Emirati female cyclist, and a member of the UCI Women’s WorldTeam UAE Team ADQ, with an inspiring speech to motivate other female athletes.

Next will be a panel discussion entitled “UAE Cycling Roundtable”, in which His Excellency Alnekhaira Al Khyeli, Abu Dhabi Cycling Club CEO, and His Excellency Hareb Al Ali, Board Member of the UAE Cycling Federation, will speak.

This will be followed by the “Champions roundtable”, attended by Moroj Adil, the first Saudi female cyclist on the Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Continental Team, German Paralympic cyclist Denise Schindler, three-time UCI Road World Champion Peter Sagan, and Carlos Mario Oquendo, Olympic BMX Racing medalist. A panel discussion titled “Cycling cities around the world” will be held after a brief break, with Samson Ndayishimiye, President of the Rwanda Cycling Federation, Akiko Nagano, Senior Director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Euan Jardine from the Scottish Borders Council, Fateen Al Masri from Aldar Properties, and His Excellency Alnekhaira Al Khyeli, Abu Dhabi Cycling Club CEO. After lunch, Jean Todt, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, will deliver a speech.

The panel discussion titled “Cycling towards a sustainable future” will be conducted with Melissa Moncada, President of UAE Team ADQ, Mauro Gianetti, Team Principal and CEO of UAE Team Emirates, Caroline Julian, Brand & Engagement Director of British Cycling, and Mike Laflin, CEO and Founder of Global Sustainable Sport.

The “Abu Dhabi’s cycling vision” panel will then be held, with His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, a representative from the Department of Municipalities and Transport, and His Excellency Dr. Arif Al Hammadi, Advisor to the Department of Community Development - Abu Dhabi, speaking.

Finally, the first day of the Forum will conclude with a session entitled “Strategies to grow cycle tourism” in which speakers include Jill Warren, CEO of the European Cyclists’ Federation, Qondisa Ngwenya, President of Cycling South Africa, Sandro Araujo, Vice-President of the Portuguese Cycling Federation, and Samara Sheppard, UCI Bike City Coordinator for Destination Wollongong in Australia.