Cyclists.com

Al Dhaid – Khor Fakkan

177 km road cycling loop2,128 m climbing6–8½ hoursGPX

Al Dhaid, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates · Road

A hilly 177 km road cycling loop from Al Dhaid, Sharjah through Saram, Al Ghamarah and Khor Fakkan, with 2,128 m of climbing over Al Ghūnah climb (498 m) and Jabal Daftah (641 m). Most of it (121.6 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 97.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 35 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 137–172).

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At a glance

Best for
Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
177 km
Loop
Elevation gain
2,128 m
12 m per km
Riding time
6–8½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
98% paved · 1% unpaved · 2% no data
Traffic
Mostly main roads
121.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 97.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more
Food & water
Longest gap 35 km
60 cafés and restaurants · 35 shops · 1 water point · 12 petrol stations · 6 public toilets · 1 bike shop
Best months
Dec to Feb
Al Dhaid climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Al Dhaid

Map and elevation profile

Elevation profile

Total ascent
2,128 m
Distance
177 km
0200400600800m0 km50100150177 km762 m · highest, at 69.2 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Al Dhaid
  2. Saramkm 4
  3. Al Ghūnah climb (498 m)km 43
  4. Al Ghamarahkm 59
  5. Jabal Daftah (641 m)km 62
  6. Khor Fakkankm 95
  7. Aqqahkm 112
  8. Al Muhallabkm 133
  9. Zahir As Safwah climb (275 m)km 146
  10. Al Dhaidkm 177

Starting at Adh Dhayd, the route passes several villages including Saram, Sram, Jerief, and climbs 4.2 km from 8.5 km gaining 102 m at 2.4% average gradient. It continues past Al Busserah and Al Halah, then climbs again from 42.5 km over 4.9 km gaining 233 m at a 4.8% average gradient with a max of 13.8%, reaching 506 m altitude. The route includes a longer climb from 62.2 km lasting 6.1 km with 396 m gain averaging 6.5% and max 12.3%, reaching 759 m, the highest point near Jabal Daftah at 68.3 km. It then descends to Khor Fakkan by 94.9 km at 2 m elevation, passing several villages. After Khor Fakkan, it continues through Al Badīyah and Haqil, with a mild climb from 145.8 km over 6.2 km gaining 155 m at 2.5%, then passes coastal villages like Al Aqah before returning inland. Road surface is mainly paved (98%), with 1% gravel or unpaved, and the roads include 47% major roads and 23% main roads. There are 121.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes and 97.3 km of roads with posted speed limits of 80 km/h or more. Services include supermarkets, petrol stations, cafés, bike shops, and restaurants mostly clustered near villages. The longest stretch without café, shop, or water is 35 km from 137.2 to 172.2 km. Toilet facilities are available at four points along the route.

Why ride this route?

  • The most climbing per kilometre of the 4 rides from Al Dhaid: 12 m per km.
  • Climbs Al Ghūnah climb (498 m) (4.8 km at 4.9 %), Jabal Daftah (641 m) (5.7 km at 5 %) and Zahir As Safwah climb (275 m) (6.2 km at 2.5 %).
  • Tops out at 759 m, 68.3 km in.
  • A 9.1 km descent dropping 202 m.

Highlights

  • Climb up to 759 m near Jabal Daftah
  • Passes Khor Fakkan at 95 km
  • Village stops include Masafi and Dibba Al Hisn
  • Longest cafe/shop-free stretch is 35 km

Along the route

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

Places passed

  1. Saram 4 km
  2. Sram 7.2 km
  3. Jerief 10.1 km
  4. Al Busserah 29.3 km
  5. Al Halah 36.4 km
  6. Abadilah 38.8 km
  7. Al Ghūnah 44.1 km
  8. Al Tayyibah 47.6 km
  9. Al Khalabiya 48 km
  10. Al Baha 48 km
  11. Masafi 57.5 km
  12. Al Ghamarah 58.8 km
  13. Ghadf 60 km
  14. Daftah 61.9 km
  15. Shis 70.3 km
  16. Ar Rufaysah 82.2 km
  17. Al Yarmouk 84.2 km
  18. Al Hutain 84.2 km
  19. Al Qadsia 85.2 km
  20. Al Musalla 90.6 km
  21. Al Burdi 91.4 km
  22. Al Khaledya 93.3 km
  23. Al Rifa'a 94.5 km
  24. Khor Fakkan 94.9 km
  25. Al Hayawah 95.2 km
  26. Al Mudaifi 95.9 km
  27. Lulayyah 99.9 km
  28. Zubarah 101 km
  29. Al Badīyah 103.7 km
  30. Haqil 105.4 km
  31. Nehay 105.4 km
  32. Sharm 108 km
  33. Al Aqah 111.4 km
  34. Al Aqqah 111.7 km
  35. Aqqah 111.7 km
  36. Dadna 114.8 km
  37. Dhadna 119.5 km
  38. Al Fiqait 123.6 km
  39. Rol Diba 126.3 km
  40. Al Ras 127.3 km
  41. Al Ghurfa 127.3 km
  42. Akamiya 129.2 km
  43. Sambraid 131.3 km
  44. Dibba Al Hisn 131.7 km
  45. Dibba Al Fujairah 132 km
  46. Al Murabah 132.6 km
  47. Al Muhallab 133.2 km
  48. Al Rashidiyah 133.5 km
  49. Al Rifa 134.5 km
  50. Waset 135.2 km
  51. Al Kazan 135.5 km
  52. Ghub 142.8 km
  53. Zahir As Safwah 146.1 km
  54. Zahir al Ya'ad 149.6 km
  55. Tariqat Ja`d 150 km
  56. المحترقة 152.3 km
  57. Tawiyean 160.1 km
  58. Riyamah 165.4 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 climb8.5 km4.2 km · 102 m · 2.4 % · max 4.8 %—277 m
Al Ghūnah climb (498 m)42.5 km4.9 km · 233 m · 4.8 % · max 13.8 %4.8 km · 234 m · 4.9 %506 m
Jabal Daftah (641 m)62.2 km6.1 km · 396 m · 6.5 % · max 12.3 %5.7 km · 281 m · 5 %759 m
Zahir As Safwah climb (275 m)145.8 km6.2 km · 155 m · 2.5 % · max 3.5 %6.2 km · 155 m · 2.5 %267 m

High point 759 m at 68.3 km; low point 2 m. Passes beneath Qarn Fardah, Jabal Daftah, Jabal al Hurayyah.

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).

Al Ghūnah climb (498 m) · full ascent, starts at 42.4 km

4.8 km at 4.9% · 234 m
300350400450500m3.5%12%3.9%0 km12344.8 km503 msteepest 11.6%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Jabal Daftah (641 m) · full ascent, starts at 62.1 km

5.7 km at 5% · 281 m
400450500550600650700m3.1%6.5%9.4%0.6%0 km123456.3 km681 msteepest 9.4%

Zahir As Safwah climb (275 m) · full ascent, starts at 145.6 km

6.2 km at 2.5% · 155 m
150200250m1.8%2.9%1.7%2.8%3.0%2.6%0 km1234566.5 km275 m

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

This is not a cycle-track route: 69% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 97.3 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
47% major road · 23% main road · 21% minor road · 6% quiet street · 2% other roads and tracks · 1% unmapped
Main roads
121.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
97.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
Al Shohadaa Road (33 km), Masafi-Dibba Road (22 km), Dibba-Khor Fakkan Road (19 km), Khorfakkan Road (14 km)
Surface
Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
Gradient
23% climbing · 17% descending · 60% flat
Steep sections
4.4 km over 5% · 2.9 km over 8% · 2.6 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 13.1% at 46.9 km
Longest descent
9.1 km from 16.7 km, dropping 202 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 35 km, from km 137 to 172. Along the route: 60 cafés and restaurants, 35 shops, 1 water point, 12 petrol stations, 6 public toilets and 1 bike shop.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 0 kmADNOC Oasis · supermarket · 30 m off route
  2. 0 kmADNOC · petrol station · 40 m off route
  3. 54.8 kmAl Dahreez · bakery · 70 m off route
  4. 58.1 kmMasafi Hospital · hospital · 170 m off route
  5. 58.8 kmAl Aswaq · supermarket · 120 m off route
  6. 68.6 kmMohamed Al Yoha Supermarket · supermarket · 70 m off route
  7. 80.8 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 60 m off route
  8. 88.6 kmToilets · 70 m off route
  9. 95.6 kmCafé · 40 m off route
  10. 97.2 kmADNOC · petrol station · 60 m off route
  11. 99.2 kmBike shop · 160 m off route
  12. 104.4 kmToilets · 170 m off route
  13. 114.8 kmLebanon Lights Bakery & Sweets · restaurant · on the route
  14. 122.9 kmCafé · 40 m off route
  15. 127.6 kmZOOM · convenience store · 140 m off route
  16. 130.6 kmADNOC · petrol station · 30 m off route
  17. 133.2 kmStarbucks · café · 110 m off route
  18. 137.2 km3D Bites Restaurant · restaurant · 140 m off route

Worth a stop

  • 14.9 km — Site 8 - 2 beehive tombs (archaeological site)
  • 40.8 km — Wadi Al Abadilah hiking trails (attraction)
  • 80.8 km — Reservoir. Observation deck (viewpoint)
  • 95.9 km — Khorfakkan Beach (picnic site)
  • 104.4 km — Al Badiyah Fort (castle)
  • 151.9 km — Site 3 (archaeological site)

Start and access

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

At the start and finish

Food and coffee
Al Shuara Restaurant (300 m)
Shops
ADNOC Oasis (30 m)

Know before you go

  • 121.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane
  • 97.3 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
  • 35 km longest stretch without café, shop or water between 137.2 km and 172.2 km
  • Steepest 500 m section at 46.9 km with 13.1% gradient

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

About this route

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 Dhaid (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 Al Ghūnah climb (498 m)

Also over Jabal Daftah (641 m)

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