The Al Qudra Cycle Track is one of the best places to ride a bike anywhere in the region — smooth, traffic-free tarmac winding through open desert, gazelles and oryx at dawn, and a sunrise that makes the early alarm worth it. Whether you're clipping in for the first time or chasing a personal best, here's how to ride it well — and where to fuel up so the ride doesn't fall apart at kilometre 40.
The loops & distances
The track is built as a set of nested loops, so you can pick your distance and extend or cut short as you feel. Approximate ride distances:
Distances vary a little depending on which connectors you take, but that's the shape of it: something for a gentle 30 minutes, something for a 3-hour epic.
When to ride
In the cooler months (roughly October to April) almost any time works, though mornings are magic. In summer there is really only one answer: before sunrise. Riders roll out in the dark and are finishing as the heat arrives. The track has lighting on the inner sections, but a good front light is essential for the early start.
☕ This is exactly why we're open 24/7. The coffee machine is hot and the dates are out long before sunrise — so you can fuel before the dark roll-out, not after.
Where to start
Most riders start from the Al Qudra Cycle Track area off Al Qudra Road, near the Last Exit / Seih Al Salam end — there's parking, and it's where the loops begin. Zad sits right there at the Last Exit, so it's the natural meet-point: park, grab a coffee, sort your bottles, and clip in. Drop a pin for Zad on Google Maps and you'll find the start.
Where to fuel — before & after
Here's where most riders get caught out: there's nowhere on the loops to buy anything. Whatever you didn't bring, you ride without. So fuel properly at the start, and carry enough for the distance you've chosen.
We built our cyclist stop specifically for this — the only proper fuel wall on the track:
- Energy gels — Maurten, GU and Precision, the brands riders actually train on.
- Hydration & electrolytes — Pocari Sweat, hydration tablets, the lot. The desert pulls salt out of you fast.
- Recovery drinks — for the after, when the real work is done.
- Coffee & real food — specialty coffee, fresh smoothies, wraps and sandwiches. (See the full café menu.)
- The basics — cold water by the case, bananas, dates, snacks.
What to carry on the bike
- Two full bottles minimum on the long loops — more in summer.
- Gels or chews for anything over an hour.
- A spare tube, tyre levers, a mini-pump or CO₂, and a multi-tool.
- Phone, ID and a little cash — and front + rear lights for the dark start.
- Sunscreen and a layer for the temperature swing at dawn.
🚲 Riding out before dawn? WhatsApp us your order the night before — coffee, gels and bottles ready to grab so you don't lose a minute. Message Zad on WhatsApp →
Zad Food Store is open 24/7 at the Last Exit, Al Qudra Road (Seih Al Salam), Dubai — fuelling riders since 2013.