Cycling in Sharjah

Cycling guide to Sharjah

Riding from Sharjah is built around coast-to-coast routes: all four recorded rides leave the city's seaside districts of Al Mamzar, Al Nahda and Al Khan, thread through Al Khalidiyah, Al Layyah, Al Majaz, Al Jubail, Al Soor and Al Qasimia, then head inland via Oud Al Muteena, Al Mizhar 3, Al Badaia, Al Ttay and Qatah towards the Hajar Mountains. Beyond Qatah the routes split. One line runs through Milehah, Munay, Khawr Kalba and Kalba to the east coast at Qurayyah, Mirbah, Khor Fakkan and Al Aqqah, covering 215.8 km with 968 m of climbing. Two shorter versions, both 165 km and 829 m, pass Wishāh, Daftah, Ghadf, Shis and Ar Rufaysah to Khor Fakkan or Dibba. The hilliest option, 217.6 km with 1,466 m, adds Musseili and Shawka before rejoining the same valley road to Khor Fakkan.

Best time to ride

Recordings are from November and March, with temperatures of 22-27°C.

Terrain

The long approach out of Sharjah is flat to gently rolling, with the climbing concentrated in the Hajar section: the biggest measured climbs run 3.1-4.7 km at 2.5-4% average, with maximums of 4.4-7.1%. High points range from 437 m to 564 m.