Cyclists.com

Around Al Fujayrah via Saham

Al Manzafah, Hajar Mountains, United Arab EmiratesRoad

93 km
Distance
883 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
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On the road: Around Al Fujayrah via Saham
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Elevation profile

Total ascent
883 m
Distance
93 km
0100200300400m0 km2040608093 km370 m · highest, at 92.6 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route overview

Suitable for riders comfortable with moderate climbs over a long 93 km distance.

93 km loop cycle ride in the Hajar Mountains, UAE, starting and ending at Al Manzafah with 883 m of climbing.

This 93 km loop cycle begins and ends at Al Manzafah, passing through several small towns including Madouk, Al Heel, Ihfarah, and Kalba. The route traverses a mixture of road types: 28% on major roads, 23% each on main and minor roads, 14% motorway, and smaller shares on quiet streets, paths, and pedestrian areas. Most roads are paved with 97% paved surface and a minimal 2% unmapped. Climbing is spread throughout the route with six main climbs. The first climb starts around 25 km, gradually rising 110 m over 5 km with an average gradient of 2.2%. Steeper sections include a 2.4 km climb at 4% average gradient and a challenging 4.2 km climb averaging 5.5% with a maximum gradient of 13.3%. The highest point near the road is 370 m at about 90.5 km. The route features a longest descent of 6.4 km. Facilities are available up to about 64.6 km with cafes, restaurants, shops, petrol stations, and bike rental near towns like Kalba and Fujairah. After 64.6 km, there is a 26 km stretch without cafes, shops, or water until the finish. A bailout point exists at Fujairah Station at 66 km. Main roads without cycle lanes total 60 km, and roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more cover 16.6 km.

Highlights

  • Climb reaching 370 m near 90 km
  • Jabal Hafarah mountain near 22 km
  • Longest descent 6.4 km from 6.9 km
  • Loop route through Kalba and Fujairah

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Madouk 6.2 km
  2. Al Heel 15.3 km
  3. Ihfarah 23 km
  4. Al Uqdah 29.1 km
  5. Al Maqt'a 47.3 km
  6. Al Quala'a 50.4 km
  7. Khawr Kalba 50.6 km
  8. Al Mafraq 50.8 km
  9. Al Nighala 51.1 km
  10. Al Bardi 51.8 km
  11. Al Aoud 51.8 km
  12. Kalba 52.2 km
  13. Al Sidrah 52.5 km
  14. Al Bateen 52.5 km
  15. Al Qadesia 52.5 km
  16. Hitteen 53.3 km
  17. Al Musalla 53.3 km
  18. Al Khuwair 53.5 km
  19. Al Mughaider 54.4 km
  20. Al Mahatta 54.4 km
  21. A'quola 54.6 km
  22. Al Bhaies 54.8 km
  23. Darweshia 55.2 km
  24. Al Husen 55.4 km
  25. Suhaila 55.9 km
  26. Sour Kalba 56.6 km
  27. Rughaylat 58.1 km
  28. Al Gurfaa 59.2 km
  29. Fujairah 60.3 km
  30. Ghalala 60.5 km
  31. Owaid 61.6 km
  32. Al Faseel 62.5 km
  33. Al Sharia 63.9 km
  34. Al Sharia 1 64.2 km
  35. Al Hilal 64.7 km
  36. Ishwais 66.1 km
  37. Sakamkam 67.1 km
  38. Yabsa 73.2 km
  39. Al Farfar 75.3 km
  40. Al Ghizaimri 79.9 km
  41. Far`ah 81 km
  42. Saham 89.5 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—25.2 km5 km110 m2.2 %3.2 %169 m
—30.6 km2.4 km98 m4 %7.8 %269 m
—36 km2.6 km71 m2.8 %3.7 %271 m
Ishwais climb67.4 km4.2 km234 m5.5 %13.3 %247 m
—81.6 km3 km84 m2.8 %5.5 %222 m
—84.9 km5.6 km138 m2.5 %3.8 %370 m

High point 370 m at 90.5 km; low point 1 m. Passes beneath Jabal Hafarah.

Ishwais climb · starts at 67.4 km

4.5 km at 5.3% · 240 m
50100150200m3.6%5.7%11%0 km12344.6 km243 msteepest 10.5%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
28% major road · 23% main road · 23% minor road · 14% motorway
Main roads
60 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
16.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
Yabsa Bypass Road (10 km), Mohammed Bin Zayed City (6 km), Sharjah - Kalba Road (6 km), H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Freeway (6 km)
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
26% climbing · 23% descending · 52% flat
Steep sections
3.3 km over 5% · 1.1 km over 8% · 0.4 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 22.8% at 0 km
Longest descent
6.4 km from 6.9 km, dropping 152 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: 26 km, from 65 km to 91 km.

Food, water and shops

  1. 14.6 kmADNOC · petrol station · 50 m off route
  2. 18.3 kmAl Gazal Cafeteria · restaurant · 60 m off route
  3. 39.5 kmHabib Beirut · restaurant · 60 m off route
  4. 45 kmStarbucks · café · on the route
  5. 45 kmToilets · on the route
  6. 45.1 kmADNOC · petrol station · 70 m off route
  7. 48.3 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 200 m off route
  8. 54 kmKFC · fast food · 70 m off route
  9. 54.2 kmAl Zaytoon · pharmacy · 50 m off route
  10. 57.6 kmADNOC · petrol station · 70 m off route
  11. 58.3 kmAkbar Supermarket · convenience store · 300 m off route
  12. 58.5 kmCafe Di Roma · café · 70 m off route
  13. 58.9 kmToilets · 90 m off route
  14. 60 kmBike rental · on the route
  15. 62.5 kmAl Sharq Pharmacy · pharmacy · 50 m off route
  16. 63.9 kmStarbucks · café · 100 m off route
  17. 64.6 kmZOOM · convenience store · 40 m off route
  18. 64.6 kmENOC · petrol station · 60 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 66 km — Fujairah Station (station), 110 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 39.5 km — Hanging Garden Kalba (attraction)
  • 47.9 km — Visit Center of Khor Kalba Mangrove Reserve (attraction)
  • 55.4 km — Kalba Fort (castle)
  • 59.1 km — Bull fighting (Bullring) (attraction)

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Loop
Riding time
3½–5 hours riding
Season
January, with temperatures recorded at 23°C.

Know before you go

  • 26 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 64.6 km
  • 60 km on main roads without a cycle lane
  • 16.6 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more

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