Cyclists.com

Dubai Islands via the Abra

Dubai, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesRoad

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Friday 27th June 2025

95 km
Distance
11 m
Elevation gain
Moderate
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap
On the road: Dubai Islands via the Abra

Elevation profile

Total ascent
11 m
Distance
95 km
-20020m0 km2040608095 km11 m · highest, at 12.7 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route overview

Suitable for riders comfortable with a 95 km flat urban loop with some main road sections and urban traffic.

95.2 km loop cycle route from Dubai through city districts and along the coast.

Starting in Dubai, the route passes through numerous city districts including Al Thanyah 1 at 1.8 km, Al Barsha areas between 4 km and 7 km, and the Al Quoz Industrial areas from about 9 km to 17 km. It continues towards Business Bay at 18 km, passing the Burj Khalifa at 20 km, and traverses Za'abeel, Trade Centre, and Oud Metha up to 31 km. The route then moves through central areas such as Al Rigga and Deira by km 37, before heading along the Corniche Deira and Al Shindagha towards coastal locations like Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim. The route has no significant climbs with a total elevation gain of only 143 m and peaks at 11 m around km 12.7, dipping to -1 m near km 18.8. It is entirely flat with no sustained steep gradients. Surfaces are mainly paved (90%), with the remainder unmapped. The journey is on mixed road types: 40% main roads, 18% minor roads, 18% quiet streets, 15% paths, and smaller shares of cycle paths and pedestrian areas. For example, First Al Khail Street is ridden for 7.9 km. There are 40.5 km on main roads without cycle lanes, including 2.6 km on fast roads (80 km/h or more). Stops for food and drink include cafés like Starbucks (2 km), Burnout (30 km), Kulfi Chai (56 km), and Pitfire Pizza Greens near the end (91.5 km). There is a stretch of 8.5 km without café, shop, or water facilities from 39 km to 47.5 km. Supermarkets, bike shops, petrol stations, and toilets are available at various points. Bailout points are accessible via ferries and stations such as Business Bay MTS (18 km) and Marina Mall Water Bus (83 km).

Highlights

  • Passes Burj Khalifa at 20.3 km
  • Along Corniche Deira at 49.7 km
  • Visit Jumeirah Mosque near 57.5 km
  • Cafés available near 2 km and 91.5 km

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Al Barsha 1 4 km
  2. Al Barsha 5 km
  3. Al Barsha 3 5.2 km
  4. Al Barsha 2 6.9 km
  5. Al Quoz Industrial 3 9.3 km
  6. Al Quoz Industrial 4 9.3 km
  7. Al Quoz Industrial Area 10.7 km
  8. Al Quoz Industrial 1 11.8 km
  9. Al Quoz Industrial 2 11.8 km
  10. Al Quoz 4 12.9 km
  11. Al Safa 2 14.4 km
  12. Al Safa 15 km
  13. Al Quoz 3 15 km
  14. Al Quoz 15.8 km
  15. Al Quoz 1 16.6 km
  16. Business Bay 18.1 km
  17. Al Wasl 19.5 km
  18. Burj Khalifa 20.3 km
  19. Za'abeel 2 23.8 km
  20. Zabeel 24 km
  21. Trade Centre 24.7 km
  22. Trade Centre 2 25.2 km
  23. Za’abeel 1 26.9 km
  24. Oud Metha 29.3 km
  25. Al Kifaf 29.8 km
  26. Al Mankhool 30.8 km
  27. Umm Hurair 31.1 km
  28. Karama 31.3 km
  29. Umm Hurair 1 32.3 km
  30. Riggat Al Buteen 32.4 km
  31. Al Muraqqabat 32.6 km
  32. Al Rigga 33.2 km
  33. Al Hamriya 33.3 km
  34. Dubai 34.7 km
  35. Al Souq Al Kabeer 34.7 km
  36. Al Ras 35.5 km
  37. Al Buteen 35.5 km
  38. Al Sabkha 36 km
  39. Al Daghaya 36.2 km
  40. Ayal Nasir 36.5 km
  41. Deira 36.7 km
  42. Al Corniche 36.7 km
  43. Naif 36.9 km
  44. Al Murar 37.1 km
  45. Al Muteena 38.2 km
  46. Al Baraha 38.2 km
  47. Abu Hail 39 km
  48. Palm Deira 41.5 km
  49. Corniche Deira 49.7 km
  50. Al Shindagha 53.1 km
  51. Al Raffa 54.5 km
  52. Dubai Maritime City 55.7 km
  53. Al Hudaiba 56.3 km
  54. Al Bada'a 58.4 km
  55. Jumeirah 1 59.6 km
  56. Jumeirah Bay 61.1 km
  57. Jumeirah 61.3 km
  58. Jumeirah 2 61.9 km
  59. Jumeirah Island 2 63.9 km
  60. Jumeirah 3 65 km
  61. Umm Suqeim 1 66.8 km
  62. Umm Suqeim 68.6 km
  63. Umm Suqeim 2 69.3 km
  64. Umm Suqeim 3 70.9 km
  65. Umm Al Sheif 72.4 km
  66. Al Sufouh 1 73.8 km
  67. Al Thanyah 2 79.6 km
  68. Al Thanyah 4 80.2 km
  69. Emirates Hills 81.2 km
  70. Dubai Marina 83.3 km
  71. Al Thanyah 5 86.7 km
  72. Al Thanyah 3 90.8 km
  73. Al Sufouh 2 91.5 km

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
40% main road · 18% minor road · 18% quiet street · 15% path
Main roads
40.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
2.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
4.1 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
First Al Khail Street (8 km), Al Asayel Street (5 km), Abdullah Omran Taryam Street (4 km), Jumeira Street (3 km)
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
0% climbing · 0% descending · 100% flat

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.

Food, water and shops

  1. 2 kmStarbucks · café · 80 m off route
  2. 2 kmBin Sina Pharmacy · pharmacy · 50 m off route
  3. 8.4 kmTraffic Cafe · café · 100 m off route
  4. 16.1 kmAl Tamimi New Pharmacy · pharmacy · 50 m off route
  5. 19.2 kmToilets · 90 m off route
  6. 20.7 kmCareem Bike · bike rental · on the route
  7. 29.8 kmEmarat · petrol station · 230 m off route
  8. 32.9 kmToilets · on the route
  9. 34.8 kmRas Al Khor Pharmacy · pharmacy · 50 m off route
  10. 36 kmAmba · café · 70 m off route
  11. 50.7 kmCareem · bike rental · 80 m off route
  12. 54.7 kmENOC · petrol station · 120 m off route
  13. 57.7 kmSpinneys · supermarket · 60 m off route
  14. 60.3 kmSugar Bae · café · on the route
  15. 65.8 kmBW Cafe · café · 30 m off route
  16. 67.2 kmDrinking water · 80 m off route
  17. 76.7 kmHive Board Game Café · café · 110 m off route
  18. 89.7 kmR105m · drinking water · 170 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 18.2 km — Business Bay MTS (ferry), 170 m off route
  • 28.3 km — max (station), 1000 m off route
  • 35 km — Deira Old Souk (ferry), on the route
  • 53 km — Al Ghubaiba (station), 280 m off route
  • 60.7 km — Jumeirah One Fishing Harbour (ferry), 280 m off route
  • 76.5 km — Dubai Internet City (station), 670 m off route
  • 82.9 km — Marina Mall (Water Bus) (ferry), 1.0 km off route
  • 90.2 km — Al Fardan Exchange (station), 70 m off route

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

Worth a stop

  • 27.3 km — The palace of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum (castle)
  • 31.7 km — Ansar Gallery (attraction)
  • 35.8 km — Aerosoft by Sylvia & Jangjoo (attraction)
  • 57.5 km — Jumeirah Mosque (attraction)
  • 64.5 km — Jumeirah Beach (attraction)
  • 75.8 km — ARN Arabian Radio Network (viewpoint)

At the start and finish

  • Caribou · café · 100 m
  • Pitfire Pizza Greens · café · 230 m
  • Nando's · restaurant · 40 m
  • Choitram's (Greens Village) · supermarket · 260 m
  • Bluemart Supermarket · supermarket · 380 m

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Loop
Riding time
3½–5 hours riding
Season
June with temperatures around 34°C.
Best months
Dec to Feb — daily highs of 25–27 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • 40.5 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • 2.6 km on fast roads with speed 80 km/h+
  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water for 8.5 km from 39 to 47.5 km

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

5 photographs from the road

More rides from Dubai