UAE Tour 2026: Route

The UAE Tour takes place this week. Over the course of seven days, the riders face the usual mix of sprint opportunities, two summit finishes, and a flat individual time trial. The biggest change from last year is that Jebel Jais has been replaced by a new climb, the brutal Jebel Mobrah.

Stage-by-stage breakdown of the 2026 UAE Tour

The first 60 kilometres of the 1st stage are flat. After that, several short climbs appear, before the road rises sharply to the line after the flamme rouge. Still, a bunch sprint is the most likely outcome. Last year, Milan turned out on top on virtually the same course.

Stage 2 is an exact copy of last year, when Tarling stormed to triumph. It is a 12.2-kilometre individual time trial on a flat, fast course.

Stage 3 offers the first of the two uphill finishes in the UAE Tour. The route is flat except for the final climb, which is a brute. Jebel Mobrah serves up 14.9 kilometres at an average gradient of 8.6%, with the final 6.8 kilometres averaging 12% (!).

Stage 4 features over 2,300 metres of climbing. The road undulates throughout, before descending in the final 25 kilometres to the finish at sea level. Arguably, the second chance for the fast finishers.

Stage 5 certainly suits the sprinters. Both the start and finish are in Dubai, and the route is extremely flat.

Stage 6 takes the riders on a flat approach to Jebel Hafeet, a 10.8-kilometre climb at 6.6% average gradient. This climb was traditionally the toughest in the UAE Tour, but with the addition of Jebel Mobrah, that is no longer the case.

The final stage is the flattest of the week. The finish is at Abu Dhabi Breakwater, where Tim Merlier has taken victory for the past three years.