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Al Aqah to Nazwa via the Mountains

Al Aqah, Fujairah, United Arab EmiratesRoad

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

167 km
Distance
725 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap
On the road: Al Aqah to Nazwa via the Mountains

Elevation profile

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

Route overview

Suitable for cyclists prepared for a long ride with moderate climbing in mostly flat terrain.

166.8 km from Al Aqah to Nazwa in the Hajar Mountains, UAE, with 745 m climbing.

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).

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 recorded track 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

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
Zahir As Safwah climb30.9 km6.5 km163 m2.5 %3.6 %274 m

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

Zahir As Safwah climb · starts at 30.9 km

7.2 km at 2.4% · 171 m
150200250m2.1%2.9%2.1%2.6%3.1%2.8%0 km1234566.4 km286 m
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
60% main road · 32% major road · 3% quiet street · 2% minor road
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 throughout
Gradient
8% climbing · 4% descending · 87% flat
Longest descent
3.3 km from 41.7 km, dropping 85 m

Along the way

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

Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 29 km, from 21 km to 50 km.

Food, water and shops

  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)

At the start

  • estacoza seafood · restaurant · 200 m
  • Subway · fast food · 250 m
  • Sapore · restaurant · 240 m

At the finish

  • Nazwa Valley Grocery · supermarket · 300 m
  • Desert Mountain Supermarket · supermarket · 320 m
  • Al Fareed Restaurant · restaurant · 160 m
  • Ghadeer Saeed Café & Restaurant · restaurant · 260 m

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
6–8½ hours riding
Season
February with temperatures around 23°C.
Best months
Dec to Mar — daily highs of 24–28 °C in those months

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.

6 photographs from the road

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