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Around Dubai

71 km road cycling out-and-back route907 m climbing2–2½ hoursGPX

Dubai, United Arab Emirates · Road

A hilly 71 km road cycling out-and-back route from Dubai through Emirates Hills, The Springs and Al Thanyah 5, with 907 m of climbing over the Dubai climb and the Emirates Hills climb. Most of it (43.2 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 3.7 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.

Route contributed by Richard Chapman · Last ridden Friday 5th May 2023

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At a glance

Best for
Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
70.5 km
Out and back
Elevation gain
907 m
13 m per km
Riding time
2–2½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
95% paved · 0% unpaved · 5% no data
Traffic
Mostly main roads
43.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 3.7 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more
Food & water
Regular
351 cafés and restaurants · 68 shops · 6 water points · 2 petrol stations · 6 public toilets · 15 bike shops
Best months
Dec to Feb
Dubai climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Dubai

Map and elevation profile

Elevation profile

Total ascent
907 m
Distance
71 km
0200400600800m0 km20406071 km644 m · highest, at 49.4 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Dubai
  2. Dubai climbkm 6
  3. Emirates Hillskm 9
  4. Emirates Hills climbkm 12
  5. The Springskm 16
  6. Al Thanyah 5km 36
  7. Jumeirah Lakes Towerskm 37
  8. Al Thanyah 2km 42
  9. Al Thanyah 4km 58
  10. Dubaikm 71

Starting from Dubai, the route heads past Emirates Hills at 9.4 km and The Springs at 16.3 km. It includes four climbs: the first is 4.4 km gaining 151 m between 6.2 and 10.6 km; the second is the longest at 9.1 km gaining 371 m, reaching 640 m elevation at 20.6 km. The highest point on the route is at 644 m around 49 km after climbing 4.1 km from km 44.9.

The route is 95% paved, with 62% on main roads including Al Asayel Street (12.7 km) and First Al Khail Street (12.4 km). It features a mix of minor roads, paths and quiet streets. There are 43.2 km on main roads without cycle lanes, including 3.7 km on roads posted 80 km/h or above. Food, drink, shops and water are available frequently, although there is a 9.2 km stretch without cafés, shops or water from km 41 to 50.2. At the start and finish in Dubai, several cafés, restaurants, and supermarkets are nearby.

Why ride this route?

  • The most climbing per kilometre of the 32 rides from Dubai: 13 m per km.
  • Climbs the Dubai climb (4.4 km at 3.5 %) and the Emirates Hills climb (9.1 km at 4.1 %).
  • Tops out at 644 m, 49 km in.
  • An 8.7 km descent dropping 370 m.

Highlights

  • Emirates Hills at 9.4 km
  • The Springs at 16.3 km
  • Highest point 644 m at 49 km
  • Longest climb 9.1 km gaining 371 m

Along the route

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

Places passed

  1. Emirates Hills 9.4 km
  2. The Springs 16.3 km
  3. Al Thanyah 5 36.1 km
  4. Jumeirah Lakes Towers 37.2 km
  5. Al Thanyah 2 41.5 km
  6. Al Thanyah 4 58.4 km
  7. Dubai Marina 68.3 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
Dubai climb6.2 km4.4 km · 151 m · 3.5 % · max 5.9 %4.4 km · 151 m · 3.5 %274 m
Emirates Hills climb11.5 km9.1 km · 371 m · 4.1 % · max 6.9 %9.1 km · 371 m · 4.1 %640 m
Unnamed climb39.4 km2.3 km · 59 m · 2.6 % · max 5 %—489 m
Unnamed climb44.9 km4.1 km · 161 m · 4 % · max 6.6 %—644 m

High point 644 m at 49 km; low point 68 m.

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).

Dubai climb · full ascent, starts at 6.2 km

4.4 km at 3.5% · 151 m
150200250m4.9%2.8%3.7%2.3%0 km12344.4 km274 msteepest 4.9%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Emirates Hills climb · full ascent, starts at 11.5 km

9.1 km at 4.1% · 371 m
300350400450500550600m3.5%2.5%5.7%4.0%4.5%5.8%4.5%0 km123456789.1 km640 msteepest 5.8%

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

This is not a cycle-track route: 61% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 3.7 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
62% main road · 12% minor road · 11% path · 10% quiet street · 5% other roads and tracks
Main roads
43.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
3.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
Al Asayel Street (13 km), First Al Khail Street (12 km), Al Sohool Street (4 km), Al Khamila Street (4 km)
Surface
Paved: 95% of the route is mapped as paved and 5% has no surface data.
Gradient
34% climbing · 33% descending · 33% flat
Steep sections
4.6 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 6.3% at 16.4 km
Longest descent
8.7 km from 49.5 km, dropping 370 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.

No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 351 cafés and restaurants, 68 shops, 6 water points, 2 petrol stations, 6 public toilets and 15 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 1 kmDrinking water · on the route
  2. 1 kmToilets · 260 m off route
  3. 1.4 kmWest Zone · supermarket · 40 m off route
  4. 3.6 kmLife Pharmacy · pharmacy · 30 m off route
  5. 7.7 kmTexas Chicken · fast food · 60 m off route
  6. 7.7 kmENOC · petrol station · 60 m off route
  7. 24.2 kmPapa Murphy's · restaurant · 100 m off route
  8. 31.2 kmPeet's Coffee - The Meadows Souk · café · 60 m off route
  9. 32.9 kmBinSina Pharmacy Jumeirah Park Pavilion · pharmacy · 50 m off route
  10. 37.8 kmCareem Bike · bike rental · 370 m off route
  11. 41 kmENOC · petrol station · 120 m off route
  12. 51.2 km1762 Stripped · café · 260 m off route
  13. 56.8 kmLe Pain Quotidien · café · 100 m off route
  14. 61.5 kmBoon Coffee Roasters · café · on the route
  15. 61.6 kmVentum House - Cafe | Bikes | Services · bike shop · on the route
  16. 65.9 kmCarrefour Express · supermarket · 30 m off route
  17. 68.9 kmToilets · 250 m off route
  18. 69.4 kmBahary seafood · café · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 2.2 km — Marina Terrace (Water Bus) (ferry), 40 m off route
  • 21.4 km — National Paints (station), 1.5 km off route
  • 65.1 km — Al Fardan Exchange (station), 460 m off route

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

Worth a stop

  • 22.7 km — OnStage International (viewpoint)
  • 65.1 km — نقطة ارتكاز ومان شغل منطقة بداية المارينا (viewpoint)

Start and access

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

At the start and finish

Food and coffee
Endless Cafe (60 m), Bahary seafood (200 m), Decebal (90 m)
Shops
Carrefour Market (110 m), Choitarams (130 m)

Know before you go

  • 9.2 km stretch without café, shop or water between km 41 and 50.2
  • 43.2 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 3.7 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or above

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

6 photographs from the road

About this route

Ridden by
Richard Chapman
Dates ridden
to · 8 recordings
Route line
Built from 8 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 Dubai (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

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