Road · United Arab Emirates
Around Dubai
A flat 95 km road cycling loop from Dubai through Al Barsha South 2, The Springs and Al Thanyah 4, with 133 m of climbing. Most of it (72.9 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 41.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.
At a glance
- Best for
- Flat, steady riding for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 95.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 133 m
- Riding time
- 2½–3½ hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Dubai
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 133 m
- 95 km
Route description
- Dubai
- Al Barsha South 2
- The Springs
- Al Thanyah 4
- Jumeirah Lakes Towers
- Al Thanyah 2
- Expo 2020 District
- Wadi Al Safa 4
- Arabian Ranches
- Dubai
Starting near Al Hebiah 4 in Dubai, the route passes through Al Barsha South 2 and The Springs before reaching Jumeirah Lakes Towers at 19 km. It continues through Al Thanyah 2 and the Expo 2020 District at 49.4 km, then goes on to Dubai Investments Park and Wadi Al Safa 4 before returning to Al Hebiah 2 near the finish at 88.9 km. The ride has a very flat profile, with 97% flat terrain and less than 2% climbing over 5%, and the highest point is 38 m at 75.8 km.
The surface is 95% paved with some unmapped sections. Roads include 56% main roads and 20% major roads, including 31 km on Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and 13 km on Hessa Street. However, 73 km are on main roads without cycle lanes, and about 41 km on fast roads with posted speeds of 80 km/h or higher. Facilities along the way include cafés, shops, water points, and bike rental close to various route points. The longest stretch without café, shop, or water is 9.6 km between 33.6 and 43.2 km. Bailout points include stations at 18.2 km and 51.5 km and a ferry at 80.8 km.
Highlights
- Passing Expo 2020 District at 49 km
- Flat route with maximum altitude 38 m
- Longest named road: Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street (31 km)
- Bailout stations at 18 km and 51 km
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 77% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 41.3 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 56% main road · 20% major road · 9% minor road · 6% quiet street · 9% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 72.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 41.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street (31 km), Hessa Street (13 km), Al Asayel Street (8 km), First Al Khail Street (5 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 95% of the route is mapped as paved and 5% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 2% climbing · 1% descending · 97% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 181 cafés and restaurants, 62 shops, 3 water points, 6 petrol stations, 4 public toilets and 5 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.9 kmHealth first · pharmacy · 390 m off route
- 1 kmSports bar · café · 230 m off route
- 1.4 kmLulu Hypermarket · supermarket · 260 m off route
- 12.2 kmPeet's Coffee - The Meadows Souk · café · 70 m off route
- 12.2 kmSpinneys · supermarket · 60 m off route
- 18.4 kmCosta · café · 170 m off route
- 19.4 kmCareem Bike · bike rental · 390 m off route
- 22.6 kmMcDonald's · fast food · 230 m off route
- 22.6 kmENOC · petrol station · 160 m off route
- 31.7 kmMedon Pharmacy · pharmacy · 170 m off route
- 33.6 kmLime Tree · café · 120 m off route
- 33.6 kmWaitrose · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 51.5 kmDrinking water · 220 m off route
- 53.6 kmENOC Service Station of the Future · petrol station · 130 m off route
- 65.3 kmADNOC · petrol station · 130 m off route
- 69 kmSpinneys · supermarket · 220 m off route
- 80.6 kmKarak Tea · café · 190 m off route
- 81.1 kmMen · toilets · 250 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 18.2 km — DMCC (station), 620 m off route
- 51.5 km — Expo City Dubai (station), 80 m off route
- 80.8 km — Abra Station (ferry), 290 m off route
Worth a stop
- 18.4 km — OnStage International (viewpoint)
- 78 km — Global Village fireworks spot (attraction)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Food and coffee
- Wahina (860 m), Pulcinello pizzeria (910 m)
- Shops
- Multiple commercial areas (860 m), Fantastic Mini Mart (860 m), Almaya (780 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café/shop/water: 9.6 km from 33.6 to 43.2 km
- 72.9 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 41.3 km on roads with speed limit 80 km/h or more
