Video: Riding in the Emirates with Michal Prokop

Nov 8, 2019
by prkplive  

When you say Dubai or the United Arab Emirates, what do you imagine? Definitely luxury, super warm weather, oil, luxury hotels, indoor skiing, tallest building in the world, expensive cars and perhaps lots of more, coming from the incredible wealth of the country on the Arabian peninsula. It is obvious most of the visitors go to the Emirates because of the pleasant climate in the country, especially in the autumn and spring. Warm sea, plenty of resorts, water parks and other theme parks, safety and then luxury.

Beatifull trail area at Hatta

photo

The northern and eastern part of the United Arab Emirates is more hilly. Dubai itself has not so many terrain to ride but lot of cyclists are there anyway. For mountain biking trails, you have to drive a bit longer by car. The best terrain offers the mountain area on the border with Oman, the town of Shawka and Hatta.

Beatifull trail area at Hatta
Beatifull trail area at Hatta

Hatta trails are specific in the surface, which is dry, slippery and rocky. Some passages are reinforced with concrete, some are a footbridge or a wooden flap. At Hatta there are more than 50 kilometers of trails, in four difficulty levels. The red and black technical trails are the best choise for more aggressive style of riding. If you are interested in not so traditional bike sites, this may be your next destination for riding.

Beatifull trail area at Hatta


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55 Comments
  • 88 7
 Meh... If I want to ride in a country run by authoritarian shitheads who abuse women, I'll stay in America.
  • 9 0
 Zing!
  • 6 4
 America is on par at this point and they are so closely tied to the UAE oil money. Also what do you think Trump is... pretty authoritarian shithead-esque to me, best buds with Kim and Putin...
  • 4 2
 @akammer: Yeah go Canada, has Trump ever done Black face??? lol
  • 63 3
 “According to human rights organizations, the government of the UAE violates a number of fundamental human rights. The UAE does not have democratically elected institutions and citizens do not have the right to change their government or to form political parties. There are reports of forced disappearances in the UAE, many foreign nationals and Emirati citizens have been abducted by the UAE government and illegally detained and tortured in undisclosed locations.[1][2] In numerous instances, the UAE government has tortured people in custody (especially expats and political dissidents).[3][4][5][6][7] and has denied their citizens the right to a speedy trial and access to counsel during official investigations.[1][2]

Flogging and stoning are legal forms of judicial punishment in the UAE due to Sharia courts.[8] The government restricts freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and the local media is censored to avoid criticizing the government, government officials or royal families. Freedom of association and freedom of religion are also curtailed.”
source Wiki
  • 28 39
flag WAKIdesigns (Nov 9, 2019 at 2:08) (Below Threshold)
 Oh, feeling like a hero and human rights vanguard has never been easier then... even easier than boycotting Israel and not buying their Apples!

let’s resist the urge to go there my friends! I know it is hard, since visiting Dubais greatest bike park Whistleih Hassam and the infamous “Oil merchant” are on top of the bucket lists of riders around the world.

I declare... Haram!
  • 3 0
 Next year in Jerusalem!
  • 6 0
 Now do China!
  • 7 6
 @jayacheess: Kambodia, Chechenya, Afghanistan, North Korea, Neverland Ranch! Well off ,white male on expensive bicycle riding around half naked oppressed children! Who doesn't like stories like that!
  • 37 4
 "...When you say Dubai or the United Arab Emirates, what do you imagine? Definitely luxury, super warm weather, oil, luxury hotels, indoor skiing, tallest building in the world, expensive cars and perhaps lots of more, coming from the incredible wealth of the country on the Arabian peninsula. It is obvious most of the visitors go to the Emirates because of the pleasant climate in the country, especially in the autumn and spring. Warm sea, plenty of resorts, water parks and other theme parks, safety and then luxury..."

Nah, I think sh!thole. Been there, ugh.
  • 11 0
 Agree. Plus I like a beer after a 40degC ride!
  • 2 0
 Yep.
If you want to earn (and spend) a shit load of money then its ok. It us certainly not safe either.

I would say that the MTB community is really good... but the riding not so much
  • 10 5
 I imagine Skyscrapers, Lamborghinis and medieval reenactment show going in between all of it 24-7
  • 3 4
 yeah dude but you live in Sidney. I mean Oz is by far the best place to live .... Its like someone who worked at iNTENSE in California would confirm that the facility in China where they assemble Hyper s is a shithole which most likely is. I appreciate you warning us but you cant be objective given what you re used to be surrounded by.
  • 6 0
 Warm weather my ass. That is the f'ing desert,45ºC+ without a single shade is not even healthy to ride a bike.
  • 22 0
 obvious product placements:
Nutrend (Czech sports nutrition brand) - check
Ergon - check
Ghost - check

Who paid for the trip? Dubai Corporation of Tourism & Commerce Marketing or Emirates Airlines?
asking for a friend

lame vid in any way
  • 16 0
 I'd be more interested in knowing who paid to put it on the front page...
  • 6 0
 @davidrobinsonphoto: careful, you might get disappeared for saying such things
  • 2 0
 @davidrobinsonphoto: Zing !
  • 9 0
 I would NEVER EVER consider spending a single day of my vacation-time in the emirates or SA. I was there for work a few times and i absolutly hated it for various reasons. If i would consider some riding in this "area" i'd go for israel or iran. But even there: No... thanks.
  • 7 0
 I've been living in the UAE for over a year now, and while there is some beautiful terrain here, the reality is that you're limited to maybe 3 months a year where you can ride pleasantly... The heat and humidity is outright dangerous for anyone wishing to do strenuous outdoor activities in the summer... At least in cold climates you can dress warmly, but there's not much you can do to cool down in this kind of heat, and riding almost naked here would definitely be no-no. I miss being able to ride all year round
  • 6 3
 Well with climate change this will be the future everywhere...
  • 7 0
 Why, how is such a video selected to appear on pinkbike's frontpage? Honest, naive question, cause I really can't see how it could deserve it.
And I'm not even talking about the «music» coming with it.
  • 2 1
 Becuase the rider is a legend. Thats the only reason.
  • 4 0
 My wife literally left for Dubai 12 hours ago for a work trip. She was like "you wanna go?" I was like "nah, I've been once, there's no real riding there.".... oh well, at least I got to snowboard in a Mall last time.
  • 2 0
 Ras Al Khaimah... That's where it's at
  • 3 1
 @Spark24: I don't know man, after 3 years, I decided that mall recreation wasnt for me anymore
  • 1 0
 @Spark24: Bay of tents. Sure man.
  • 2 0
 @Mntneer: 3 years? I was ready after 2 runs. Would have been more fun if I was drunk, but well... Dubai
  • 1 0
 @ridintrials: you can drink all that you want in Dubai... Except only at hotel restaurants
  • 8 5
 Lived there for 5 years and can say that there are hundreds of cycling specific bike paths for road cycling and the government has developed some decent mountain biking for the terrain they have. Love all the idiots on here that have never been there talking sh=t about it. There are about 4 months when the weather is amazing and I would compare some of the riding and climate to the Phoenix or Tucson Arizona.
  • 3 0
 I made it work for a few years. Friday brunches, a Porsche Cayman for $12,000 USD, and a view of a labor camp that was low wage captivity got old after a while.

Don't go biking
Do go wakeboarding, almost any day of the year
  • 1 0
 There are many good spots to ride here and the number is increasing. For downhill oriented ride Fujairah is best. Hatta is very nice too, very dynamic terrain nicely maintained tracks also good if you are with family. Showka is raw and can be quite technical due to the many rocks and also trails are not to much maintained there. one can ride throughout the year even in the summer if waking early is your cup of tea.
  • 1 0
 Exciting stuff, i'm heading out there in 12 months to make some mad money, was worried about the riding scene and having to fly to Europe for rides but looks like ill get some of my kicks out there. But then again those of who can work out there, have the skills to get the jobs out there will always be able to get out the best riding spots in the world anyway. Cant wait!
  • 1 0
 DXB and the emirates for MTB is a joke. Maybe XC if your into that. If its Dh/Enduro then head over to Oman. Thriving enduro scene. Steeps. Real mountains.
  • 2 0
 I want to see Rampage Afghanistan style - big mountain roll in, drops, and dodging motar fire. Best riding I hear in Taliban controlled regions.

Let’s see it Redbull!
  • 2 0
 F*** UEA
  • 8 9
 Hey, lets go ride sketchy sharp rocks in a shitty foreign country with a hardtail, fat pouch, backpack, and no pads! I'm soooo core bro.
  • 4 0
 Do you know who Michal Prokop is??

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michal_Prokop

He's a boss on a bike...
  • 1 0
 @caradock:

Looks like most people on here don’t even know..... That guy rips!!
  • 2 0
 @DutchmanPhotos: maybe most of the guys too young to see how good he was compete with Lopes and Graves.
  • 2 0
 @zulki-fly: Oh yes he did big time!!
  • 2 0
 not hero dirt
  • 1 0
 Looks like Bootleg Canyon.
  • 1 0
 Need to see Oman. Look on trailforks. Beyonce's new Album.
  • 1 0
 Looks like bootleg canyon in Nevada..
  • 1 0
 Looks like Palm Springs trails.
  • 1 0
 can confirm. it sucks. There ain't no Canadian goose's there.
  • 4 5
 That actually looks like a very nice riding spot.
  • 14 1
 nah it doesn't really.
  • 1 3
 UAE is not the best place on earth to ride but it's some potential !
  • 1 4
 RampagUae?
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