Date | Monday February 16 to Sunday February 22, 2026 |
Start location | Row 1 - Cell 1 |
Finish location | Row 2 - Cell 1 |
Distance | Row 3 - Cell 1 |
Category | WorldTour |
Previous edition winner | Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) |
Previous edition |
UAE Tour 2026 Information
The UAE Tour returns for a eighth edition in 2026, taking place over seven days from February 16 to February 22.
The only WorldTour race in the Middle East is positioned as the third event on the men's WorldTour calendar, after the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, and before Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
The UAE Tour launched in 2019 when two existing races merged, the Abu Dhabi Tour and the Dubai Tour. Primož Roglič won the inaugural race.
In 2023, Remco Evenepoel claimed the overall victory, besting Luke Plapp and Adam Yates. In 2022, Tadej Pogačar won the overall title for the second year in a row, making it a replay of 2021 as he finished in front of runner-up Adam Yates.
In 2024, Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto-Dstny) won the overall title at the UAE Tour after winning the final summit finish to Jebel Hafeet on the finale stage 7. Jebel Hafeet has become a defining climb in the Middle East, having been part of the Abu Dhabi Tour and now the UAE Tour. The climb sits on one of the highest mountains in the United Arab Emirates and near the border with Oman.
Pogačar dominated again in 2025, winning two stages and riding away from his GC rivals on the final climb to Jebel Hafeet. Josh Tarling won the time trial stage, while Tim Merlier and Jonathan. Milan won two sprint stages each.
Join Cyclingnews' coverage of the 2026 UAE Tour with race reports, results, photo galleries, news and race analysis.
UAE Tour stages
To be announced.
UAE Tour Schedule
Date | Stage | Start time | Finish time |
|---|---|---|---|
Monday February 16, 2026 | Stage 1 | tbd | Row 0 - Cell 3 |
Tuesday February 17, 2026 | Stage 2 | Row 1 - Cell 2 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | Stage 3 | Row 2 - Cell 2 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
Thursday, February 19, 2026 | Stage 4 | Row 3 - Cell 2 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
Friday, February 20, 2026 | Stage 5 | Row 4 - Cell 2 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Stage 6 | Row 5 - Cell 2 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
Sunday, February 22, 2026 | Stage 7 | Row 6 - Cell 2 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
Latest Content on the Race
Pogacar skips UAE Tour defence and shuffles early-season calendar
News No duel with Evenepoel as Adam Yates confirmed for UAE Tour
Remco Evenepoel eyes possible Pogacar duel at UAE Tour
'It would be good to compete with Tadej at a race he has won twice'
Jarrad Drizners has surgery following UAE Tour crash abdominal trauma
News Australian Lotto Soudal recruit to recover in United Arab Emirates till well enough to return home
Pogacar prepares for UAE Tour showdown on Jebel Hafeet
News Tour de France winner concerned about the heat but confident of his team support
Pogacar comes through crosswinds, a sprint, and a late puncture to extend UAE Tour lead
News Slovenian holds four-second lead despite late chase after rear wheel flat
How to watch the 2022 UAE Tour – live TV and streaming
News Pogacar, Adam Yates, Vlasov, Cavendish, Bennett, Ackermann headline first WorldTour race of the season
Mark Cavendish rides on at UAE Tour after hard crash and head impact
News UPDATED: QuickStep-AlphaVinyl rider bangs head and shoulder but starts stage 5
Tom Dumoulin takes round one of UAE Tour GC battle
News ‘It gives me confidence that I was able to create a small gap on the other classification riders’ says Jumbo-Visma rider after time trial
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Sprint deviation sees Van Poppel become first rider to receive two UCI yellow cards but without risk of suspension at UAE Tour
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe fined 500 CHF, relegated to 25th and yellow carded for 'Deviation from the chosen line that obstructs or endangers another rider' -
'I hope I can deliver' – Tadej Pogačar looks to cap perfect start to season with Jebel Hafeet victory at UAE Tour
World champion aiming to secure his third UAE Tour title on Sunday's summit finish -
'I thought my power meter was broken' – Van Eetvelt not at 100% in UAE Tour title defence but relishing racing against Pogačar
'He's the best rider at the moment and maybe the best rider ever, going against him is something I will remember for the rest of my life' says Belgian
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Dylan Groenewegen out of UAE Tour after suffering concussion in stage 5 crash
Victor Langellotti out with a broken collarbone as crashes also take Fernando Gaviria and Paul Seixas out of race -
'It's always like this' - Sprinters and GC riders alike left licking wounds after double crash Friday at UAE Tour
Ineos, Movistar and Decathlon suffer big losses to overall hopes and Rodríguez, Castrillo and Gall hit the desk outside of the 3km to go mark -
A bet for a tattoo and a 'joke' attack - Why Tadej Pogačar spent 110km in the UAE Tour breakaway
World champion attacks 148km from the finish with teammate Domen Novak and extends lead with three bonus seconds
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'I used to be nervous in the finals' - Jonathan Milan establishes himself as world's best sprinter ahead of Merlier, Philipsen
Italian scores vital second victory over rivals in unofficial 'sprinters world championships' at UAE Tour -
How to watch UAE Tour 2025 – Live streams, TV channels for Jebel Hafeet stage 7 showdown
All the broadcast info for the seven-day Emirati stage race where Tadej Pogačar starts his season -
'I'm not saying I would have beat him but it's frustrating' – Onley rues positioning after UAE second place behind Pogačar
'I had more, to be honest, I should have just gone on Pog's wheel' says Picnic-PostNL rider
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Tadej Pogačar is the UAE Tour rider of the day
Few doubted that the world champion would dominate on Jebel Hafeet, and with a 7.6km solo victory to take overall victory, he did -
Ben Swift on mentoring at Ineos Grenadiers: I’m enjoying this too much to retire
British veteran discusses 2023 team goals, staying versatile and his mentoring role -
Analysis: Remco Evenepoel’s UAE Tour win matters, but Catalunya is the real Giro test
Belgian hits ground running in stage racing GC campaign: analysis -
Every second counts in UAE Tour team time trial - Preview
Tom Southam reveals the secrets of a successful TTT -
Bouncebacks and bunch sprints – 5 storylines to watch at the UAE Tour
Evenepoel searches for his first win, Jay Vine keeps on rising, Cavendish hones his lead out
