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Down the Stick from Arabian Ranches

77 km road cycling loop120 m climbing2½–4 hoursGPX

Dubai, United Arab Emirates · Road

A flat 77 km road cycling loop from Dubai through Wadi Al Safa 7, Al Yalayis 3 and Madinat Hind 4, with 120 m of climbing. 75% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.

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At a glance

Best for
Steady riding away from traffic
Distance
76.5 km
Loop
Elevation gain
120 m
2 m per km
Riding time
2½–4 hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Moderate
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
100% paved · 0% unpaved
Traffic
Mostly cycle paths
1.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 57.4 km on cycle paths or lanes
Food & water
Longest gap 20 km
2 cafés and restaurants · 9 shops · 1 water point · 3 petrol stations · 1 public toilet · 2 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
120 m
Distance
77 km
020406080100m0 km20406076 km89 m · highest, at 32.3 kmStartFinish · back at the start

What it was like to ride

Route description

  1. Dubai
  2. Wadi Al Safa 7km 8
  3. Al Yalayis 3km 46
  4. Madinat Hind 4km 54
  5. Dubaikm 77

This 76.5 km loop starts and finishes in Dubai, passing through Wadi Al Safa 7 at 8.2 km, Al Yalayis 3 at 46.2 km, and Madinat Hind 4 at 54.4 km. The route is predominantly flat, with only 2 km combined over 5% gradient including a brief steep section of 2.4% at the start. Elevation varies from 24 m near the finish to a high point of 88 m around 31.7 km.

The surface is fully paved, with 76% of the route on cycle paths, 21% on minor roads, and small sections on a motorway and quiet streets. About 1.4 km is on main roads without dedicated cycle lanes. The longest named section is the Al Qudra Cycle Path Route 4, ridden for 33.2 km. There are shops, cafés, and restaurants accessible off-route with the longest dry stretch between 31.8 km and 51.5 km where there is no café, shop, or water for 19.7 km.

Support facilities include supermarkets at 8.2 km and 63.2 km, convenience stores at 16 km, 31.7 km, and 51.5 km, drinking water and toilets close to 31.8 km, two petrol stations near 31.8 km and 51.5 km, bike rental at 31.8 km, and a bailout ferry station at 75.2 km. The route is best ridden in January when temperatures average 21°C.

Why ride this route?

  • 75% on cycle paths or lanes.

Highlights

  • Loop route around Dubai
  • High point at 88 m at 31.7 km
  • Al Qudra Cycle Path Route 4 for 33.2 km
  • Longest dry stretch without facilities 19.7 km

Along the route

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

Places passed

  1. Wadi Al Safa 7 8.2 km
  2. Al Yalayis 3 46.2 km
  3. Madinat Hind 4 54.4 km

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Much of the route is separated from traffic: 75% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.

Roads
76% cycle path · 21% minor road · 1% motorway · 1% quiet street · 1% other roads and tracks
Main roads
1.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Cycle paths
57.4 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
Al Qudra Cycle Path Route 4 (33 km)
Surface
Paved: 100% of the route is mapped as paved.
Gradient
1% climbing · 1% descending · 98% flat

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 20 km, from km 32 to 52. Along the route: 2 cafés and restaurants, 9 shops, 1 water point, 3 petrol stations, 1 public toilet and 2 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 8.2 kmWest Zone Supermarket · supermarket · 330 m off route
  2. 8.7 kmFood To Go · café · 380 m off route
  3. 16 kmZoom · convenience store · 40 m off route
  4. 16 kmEnoc · petrol station · 50 m off route
  5. 31.7 kmSpicy Village Restaurant · restaurant · 130 m off route
  6. 31.7 kmZad Foodstores · convenience store · on the route
  7. 31.7 kmAlqudra Ambulance Medical Centre · clinic · 120 m off route
  8. 31.8 kmDrinking water · on the route
  9. 31.8 kmToilets · on the route
  10. 31.8 kmTrek · bike rental · 40 m off route
  11. 31.8 kmADNOC · petrol station · 90 m off route
  12. 51.5 kmConvenience store · 70 m off route
  13. 51.5 kmADNOC · petrol station · 90 m off route
  14. 63.2 kmSpinneys · supermarket · 250 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 75.2 km — Abra Station (ferry), 1.1 km off route

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

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 19.7 km from 31.8 km to 51.5 km
  • 1.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 1 km on motorway

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

5 photographs from the road

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 Dubai (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
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Page last updated

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