Road · United Arab Emirates
Al Qudra to Jebel Hafeet
A rolling 170 km road cycling route from Al Qudra to Jebel Hafeet through Mugatrah, Al 'Ajban and Sweihan, with 1,029 m of climbing over Jebel Hafeet. Most of it (148.6 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 124.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 144 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 170.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,029 m
- Riding time
- 5½–8 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 144 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Al Qudra → Jebel Hafeet
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,029 m
- 170 km
Route description
- Al Qudra
- Mugatrah
- Al 'Ajban
- Sweihan
- Country
- Ni'mah
- Jebel Hafeet
- Jabal Hafeet
- Jebel Hafeet
Starting from Al Qudra, the route passes through Mugatrah at 14.5 km, Al 'Ajban at 75.1 km, Sweihan at 86.3 km, Country at 145.7 km, and Ni'mah at 154.7 km before reaching Jabal Hafeet at 166.3 km. The profile is mostly flat with 94% flat terrain, with 6% climbing including a final climb starting at 160.1 km lasting 6.2 km, gaining 676 m at an average gradient of 11%, peaking at 956 m.
The surface is 98% paved, and the route mainly follows main roads (84%), including At Taf Road for 53 km. There are 148.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes and 124.3 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. Food and drink options are limited for the first 144 km, with a restaurant and convenience store near the start and a few options including KFC and a café near the final climb.
Toilets and bike rental are available near the start; toilets and attractions are near the finish. The longest descent is 1.5 km from 108 km. There is no gravel or unpaved surface.
Why ride this route?
- The longest of the 32 rides from Dubai.
- Climbs Jebel Hafeet (9.5 km at 8.1 %).
- Tops out at 956 m, 166.3 km in.
Highlights
- Steep final climb to Jebel Hafeet: 6.2 km at 11% avg gradient
- Passes through Mugatrah, Al 'Ajban, Sweihan, Ni'mah
- Longest stretch without café or shop: 144.2 km from start
- Route mainly on At Taf Road for 53 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jebel Hafeet | 160.1 km | 6.2 km · 676 m · 11 % · max 23 % | 9.5 km · 766 m · 8.1 % | 956 m |
Jebel Hafeet · full ascent, starts at 160.1 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 87% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 124.3 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 84% main road · 5% major road · 5% minor road · 3% other · 3% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 148.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 124.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- At Taf Road (53 km), Ar Rawdah Road (20 km), Saih Al Salam Street (15 km), Al Faqa' Road (12 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved.
- Gradient
- 6% climbing · 1% descending · 94% flat
- Steep sections
- 6 km over 5% · 5.2 km over 8% · 3.8 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 12.4% at 166.7 km
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 144 km, from the start. Along the route: 13 cafés and restaurants, 3 shops, 1 water point, 1 petrol station, 3 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmSpicy Village Restaurant · restaurant · 70 m off route
- 0 kmGeant at ADNOC · convenience store · 90 m off route
- 0 kmDrinking water · 200 m off route
- 0 kmToilets · 200 m off route
- 0 kmTrek · bike rental · 190 m off route
- 0 kmADNOC · petrol station · 110 m off route
- 0 kmAlqudra Ambulance Medical Centre · clinic · 150 m off route
- 85.8 kmDPSC Sweihan · clinic · 140 m off route
- 144.2 kmBar · 280 m off route
- 159.2 kmKFC · fast food · on the route
- 159.4 kmConvenience store · 400 m off route
- 165.5 kmLavazza · café · 140 m off route
- 165.8 kmToilets · 150 m off route
Worth a stop
- 154.9 km — بيت عبدالرحمن (attraction)
- 161.9 km — Jabel Hafeet Parking (attraction)
Stay after this ride
- Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet · hotel · 350 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Bikes and repair
- Trek (190 m), Careem (200 m)
- Food and coffee
- Spicy Village Restaurant (70 m)
- Shops
- Geant at ADNOC (90 m), Zad Foodstores (170 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Al Khayma (440 m), Le Belvedere (350 m), Lawrence's (360 m)
Know before you go
- 144.2 km longest stretch with no café, shop, or water
- 148.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 124.3 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
