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Over 200 Cyclists Take Part in NYUAD's Second Annual Ride for Zayed

Riders, led by Emirati triathlete Faris Al Zaabi, aimed to complete 101 kilometers at Hudayriat Island

Press Release

NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) held its second annual Ride for Zayed cycling event today in honor of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE. 

Following the success of the inaugural ride last year, the second edition saw over 200 participants come together to cycle the 5 and 10km track on Hudayriat Island in Abu Dhabi. Seven of the participants completed 101km around Hudayriat Island, completing one kilometer for every year since the birth of the late Sheikh Zayed.

“With diverse nationalities taking part in the event, we have seen a plurality of cultures using this opportunity to convene and engage with other members of Abu Dhabi’s community. The entire event represents a wonderful conclusion to the Year of Tolerance, and we look forward to welcoming new and returning participants back to complete 102 km in next year’s Ride for Zayed."

NYUAD Women's Intercollegiate Athletics and Sports Communications Coordinator Salma Al Busaeedi

Faris Al Zaabi, an Emirati triathlete, joined participants at the free community event which brought together cyclists from over 30 countries. 

Faris Al Zaabi leading the participants

Al Zaabi said: “Home to over 115 nationalities, NYU Abu Dhabi is a microcosm of the UAE’s diversity. Hosting events such as Ride for Zayed is a great way to unite and encourage the greater UAE community to take up an active lifestyle. It promotes healthy challenges and demonstrates the power sport can have in bridging cultural differences.”

Yas Cycles were on hand to provide bikes to participants, and Al Ain Water partnered to provide water. 

About NYU Abu Dhabi

NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and research campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly selective undergraduate curriculum across the disciplines with a world center for advanced research and scholarship. The university enables its students in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and arts to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world and advance cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. NYU Abu Dhabi’s high-achieving students have come from over 115 countries and speak over 115 languages. Together, NYU's campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, giving faculty and students opportunities to experience varied learning environments and immersion in other cultures at one or more of the numerous study-abroad sites NYU maintains on six continents.

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