Cyclists.com

Al Aqah to Nazwa via the Mountains

167 km road cycling route725 m climbing6–8½ hoursGPX

Al Aqah, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates · Road

A rolling 167 km road cycling route from Al Aqah, Fujairah to Nazwa via the Mountains through Rul Dadna, Al Ghurfa and Al Murabah, with 725 m of climbing over Zahir As Safwah climb (286 m). Most of it (151.5 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 104 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 29 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 21–50).

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Saturday 27th February 2021

Download GPXMap

At a glance

Best for
Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
166.8 km
Point to point
Elevation gain
725 m
4 m per km
Riding time
6–8½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
98% paved · 2% unpaved
Traffic
Mostly main roads
151.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 104 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more
Food & water
Longest gap 29 km
37 cafés and restaurants · 24 shops · 3 water points · 12 petrol stations · 3 public toilets · 1 bike shop
Best months
Dec to Mar
Al Aqah climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start → finish
Al Aqah → Nazwa via the Mountains

Map and elevation profile

Elevation profile

Total ascent
725 m
Distance
167 km
0100200300400m0 km50100167 km291 m · highest, at 41.6 kmStartFinish

Route description

  1. Al Aqah
  2. Rul Dadnakm 6
  3. Al Ghurfakm 15
  4. Al Murabahkm 18
  5. Ghubkm 29
  6. Zahir As Safwah climb (286 m)km 31
  7. Al Muhtarqahkm 38
  8. Al Haniyahkm 74
  9. Musseilikm 114
  10. Nazwa via the Mountainskm 167

The route heads from Al Aqah at sea level, moving inland through a series of small places including Rul Dadna, Al Fiqait, and Dibba Al Fujairah within the first 18 km. It crosses beneath peaks such as Jabal Dadna (102 m) near the start and Aqabat al Hadid (171 m) around 13 km. The profile includes mostly flat roads (87%) with a low point at 6.1 km (3 m) and a highest point near 41.4 km (290 m). Climbing totals 745 m, mostly in the first half (72% of gain).

Why ride this route?

  • The longest of the 4 rides from Al Aqah.
  • Climbs Zahir As Safwah climb (286 m) (6.4 km at 2.5 %).

Highlights

  • Climb from 30.9 km to 37.4 km gaining 163 m
  • Jabal Dadna peak at 102 m near start
  • Qarn Fardah peak at 310 m around km 31
  • Longest named road is Al Shohadaa Road for 27.3 km

Along the route

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

Places passed

  1. Rul Dadna 5.7 km
  2. Al Fiqait 11 km
  3. Rol Diba 13.3 km
  4. Al Ras 14.3 km
  5. Al Ghurfa 14.6 km
  6. Akamiya 15.3 km
  7. Sambraid 16.9 km
  8. Dibba Al Fujairah 17.2 km
  9. Al Muhallab 18.1 km
  10. Al Murabah 18.1 km
  11. Al Rashidiyah 18.5 km
  12. Waset 18.8 km
  13. Al Kazan 19.5 km
  14. Al Rifa 19.8 km
  15. Ghub 28.9 km
  16. Zahir As Safwah 31.5 km
  17. Zahir al Ya'ad 35.1 km
  18. Tariqat Ja`d 35.7 km
  19. Al Muhtarqah 37.6 km
  20. Jerief 44.1 km
  21. Ar Riwedah 44.4 km
  22. Sram 46.7 km
  23. Saram 50 km
  24. Al Haniyah 74.4 km
  25. Manama 77.1 km
  26. Kadrah 95 km
  27. Shariyah 105.2 km
  28. Shawka 105.8 km
  29. Musseili 113.7 km
  30. Filli 123.6 km
  31. Sha'biyyat Bahayis 134.5 km
  32. Al Dafain 141.5 km
  33. Nazwa 162.6 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
Zahir As Safwah climb (286 m)30.9 km6.5 km · 163 m · 2.5 % · max 3.6 %6.4 km · 157 m · 2.5 %274 m

High point 290 m at 41.4 km; low point 3 m. Passes beneath Jabal Dadna, Aqabat al Hadid, Qarn Fardah.

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).

Zahir As Safwah climb (286 m) · full ascent, starts at 30.9 km

6.4 km at 2.5% · 157 m
150200250m2.1%2.9%2.1%2.6%3.1%2.8%0 km1234566.4 km269 m
< 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: 91% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 104 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
60% main road · 32% major road · 3% quiet street · 2% minor road · 3% other roads and tracks
Main roads
151.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
104 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
Al Shohadaa Road (27 km), Digdaga Road (23 km), Dibba-Khor Fakkan Road (13 km), Masafi-Dibba Road (7 km)
Surface
Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
Gradient
8% climbing · 4% descending · 87% flat
Longest descent
3.3 km from 41.7 km, dropping 85 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 29 km, from km 21 to 50. Along the route: 37 cafés and restaurants, 24 shops, 3 water points, 12 petrol stations, 3 public toilets and 1 bike shop.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 0 kmestacoza seafood · restaurant · 200 m off route
  2. 0 kmToilets · 210 m off route
  3. 14.7 kmZOOM · convenience store · 90 m off route
  4. 14.7 kmENOC · petrol station · 90 m off route
  5. 18.5 kmWater tap · 150 m off route
  6. 19.5 kmDibba Hospital · hospital · 270 m off route
  7. 20.2 kmADNOC · petrol station · 40 m off route
  8. 50.5 kmNujoom Al Saram restaurant · restaurant · 70 m off route
  9. 54 kmADNOC · petrol station · 110 m off route
  10. 78 kmMedical Center · clinic · 130 m off route
  11. 83.2 kmADNOC · petrol station · 60 m off route
  12. 95.1 kmKadrah Health Center · clinic · 140 m off route
  13. 105.7 kmDrinking water · 130 m off route
  14. 106.4 kmSupermarket · 70 m off route
  15. 107.6 kmShowka Bicycles · bike shop · 460 m off route
  16. 128.9 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 110 m off route
  17. 139.3 kmADNOC · petrol station · 60 m off route
  18. 163.4 kmDesert Mountain Supermarket · supermarket · 160 m off route

Worth a stop

  • 39.5 km — Site 8 - 2 beehive tombs (archaeological site)

Start and access

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

At the start

Food and coffee
estacoza seafood (200 m), Subway (250 m), Sapore (240 m)

At the finish

Food and coffee
Al Fareed Restaurant (160 m), Ghadeer Saeed Café & Restaurant (260 m)
Shops
Nazwa Valley Grocery (300 m), Desert Mountain Supermarket (320 m)

Know before you go

  • 151.5 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 104 km on roads with 80 km/h or higher speed limits
  • Longest 29.3 km without café, shop or water from km 20.5 to 49.8
  • Gravel/unpaved sections total 2% of route

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

7 photographs from the road

About this route

Ridden by
Marcus
Date ridden
Route line
Built from 2 GPS recordings 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 Zahir As Safwah climb (286 m)

Similar length from Al Aqah

Less climbing