Cyclists.com

Al Aqah Northern Coast and Oman

101 km road cycling loop753 m climbing4–5½ hoursGPX

Al Aqah, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates · Road

A rolling 101 km road cycling loop from Al Aqqah, Fujairah through Sharm, Al Mudaifi and Al Hutain, with 753 m of climbing over Jabal Half. Most of it (85.5 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 32.2 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 31 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 22–53).

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Saturday 20th November 2021

Download GPXMap

At a glance

Best for
Rolling day rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
101.3 km
Loop
Elevation gain
753 m
7 m per km
Riding time
4–5½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
98% paved · 0% unpaved · 2% no data
Traffic
Mostly main roads
85.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 32.2 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more
Food & water
Longest gap 31 km
27 cafés and restaurants · 9 shops · 1 water point · 5 petrol stations · 8 public toilets · 1 bike shop
Best months
Dec to Mar
Al Aqah climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Al Aqqah

Map and elevation profile

On the road: Al Aqah Northern Coast and Oman, Al Aqah

Elevation profile

Total ascent
753 m
Distance
101 km
0100200300400500m0 km255075101 km434 m · highest, at 43.9 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Al Aqqah
  2. Sharmkm 5
  3. Al Mudaifikm 17
  4. Al Hutainkm 18
  5. Al Burdikm 21
  6. Al Qadsiakm 22
  7. Jabal Halfkm 31
  8. Al Nahwa Old Hamletkm 37
  9. Zubarahkm 73
  10. Al Aqqahkm 101

Starting in Al Aqah, the route heads north along the coast passing Sharm and Nehay, then moves inland through Al Mudaifi and Khor Fakkan. Early climbing is moderate with a 1.6 km ascent gaining 55 m from km 21.5. The main road mix includes 54 km of major roads and 31 km of main roads, mostly without cycle lanes. After Al Qadsia at km 22.3, there is a longest stretch of 30.8 km without café, shop, or water until about km 53.

Between km 30.7 and 39.5, the route climbs 356 m over 8.8 km averaging 4.1%, reaching the highest point near 435 m at km 42.7. Following the peak, there is a long 9.3 km descent dropping 356 m. The route features paved surfaces (98%), some quiet streets (6%) and minor stretches on paths. It loops back through Madha and coastal towns including Lulayyah and Haqil before returning to Al Aqah.

Amenities are available at the start and finish with restaurants like estacoza seafood and Sapore. Other cafés and restaurants lie off route such as Ice Palace at km 8.7 and Lebannon Lights Bakery & Sweets at km 88.6. Toilets and some petrol stations appear along the route, but riders should plan for the significant stretch without services.

Why ride this route?

  • The shortest of the 4 rides from Al Aqah, yet it climbs 753 m.
  • Climbs Jabal Half (8.7 km at 4.1 %).
  • Tops out at 435 m, 42.7 km in.
  • A 9.3 km descent dropping 356 m.

Highlights

  • Loop through Hajar Mountains from Al Aqah
  • Longest climb 8.8 km at 4.1% average
  • Peaks near route: Jabal Half 569 m
  • Longest descent 9.3 km dropping 356 m

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Sharm 5 km
  2. Nehay 7.7 km
  3. Al Badīyah 8.7 km
  4. Al Mudaifi 16.9 km
  5. Al Hayawah 17.9 km
  6. Khor Fakkan 18.1 km
  7. Al Hutain 18.3 km
  8. Al Rifa'a 18.3 km
  9. Al Khaledya 19.6 km
  10. Al Burdi 21.3 km
  11. Al Yarmouk 21.8 km
  12. Al Musalla 22.3 km
  13. Al Qadsia 22.3 km
  14. Sa‘d 35.1 km
  15. Nahwa 35.9 km
  16. Al Nahwa Old Hamlet 36.8 km
  17. Madha 55.8 km
  18. Lulayyah 72.3 km
  19. Zubarah 73.2 km
  20. Haqil 78 km
  21. Rul Dadna 93.1 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideFull ascentTop on this ride
Unnamed climb21.5 km1.6 km · 55 m · 3.5 % · max 5.4 %—70 m
Jabal Half30.7 km8.8 km · 356 m · 4.1 % · max 9.5 %8.7 km · 354 m · 4.1 %419 m
Unnamed climb59.7 km2 km · 54 m · 2.8 % · max 5 %—66 m

High point 435 m at 42.7 km; low point 2 m. Passes beneath Jabal al Habil, Jabal al Balush, Jabal al Qitayliyah.

On this ride: the part this route climbs, cut from its own elevation profile. Full ascent: the whole named climb, measured the same way on every ride that uses it (its climb page).

Jabal Half · full ascent, starts at 30.7 km

8.7 km at 4.1% · 354 m
100150200250300350400m3.5%6.8%7.4%5.3%2.9%3.0%0 km123456788.8 km419 msteepest 7.4%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

This is not a cycle-track route: 84% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 32.2 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
55% major road · 32% main road · 6% quiet street · 6% minor road · 2% other roads and tracks
Main roads
85.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
32.2 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
Dibba-Khor Fakkan Road (24 km), Madha Road (20 km), Omar Bin Al Khattab Street (10 km), E199 (9 km)
Surface
Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved and 2% has no surface data.
Gradient
15% climbing · 16% descending · 68% flat
Steep sections
3.2 km over 5% · 0.6 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 8.9% at 36.6 km
Longest descent
9.3 km from 46.9 km, dropping 356 m

Food, water and services

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 31 km, from km 22 to 53. Along the route: 27 cafés and restaurants, 9 shops, 1 water point, 5 petrol stations, 8 public toilets and 1 bike shop.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 0 kmSapore · restaurant · 210 m off route
  2. 0 kmToilets · 210 m off route
  3. 8.3 kmToilets · 60 m off route
  4. 8.7 kmNew Al Jeel Supermarket & Spices Mill · supermarket · 50 m off route
  5. 9.7 kmADNOC · petrol station · 100 m off route
  6. 17.3 kmBin Moosa Medical Pharmacy · pharmacy · 70 m off route
  7. 17.9 kmAl Safeer Centre · supermarket · 180 m off route
  8. 24.4 kmToilets · 70 m off route
  9. 53 kmDrinking water · 180 m off route
  10. 60.9 kmToilets · on the route
  11. 66 kmFruit, Vegetable & Fish Market · market · 60 m off route
  12. 67.2 kmBaskinRobbins · ice cream · 50 m off route
  13. 71.9 kmCafé · on the route
  14. 71.9 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 160 m off route
  15. 85.3 kmSupermarket · 50 m off route
  16. 85.9 kmToilets · 240 m off route
  17. 89.3 kmADNOC · petrol station · 30 m off route
  18. 98.8 kmestacoza seafood · restaurant · 70 m off route

Worth a stop

  • 8.3 km — Al Badiyah Fort (castle)
  • 16.6 km — Waterfall (attraction)
  • 68.5 km — Khorfakkan Beach (picnic site)

Start and access

Starts and finishes at Al Aqqah. Mapped within a short walk of the start, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start and finish

Food and coffee
estacoza seafood (250 m), Subway (330 m), Sapore (210 m)

Know before you go

  • 30.8 km without café, shop or water from km 22.2 to 53
  • 85.5 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • 32.2 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or higher

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

8 photographs from the road

About this route

Ridden by
Marcus
Date ridden
Route line
Built from a GPS recording of the ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Al Aqah (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

See something wrong with this ride?

Also over Jabal Half

Similar length from Al Aqah

More climbing