Evening ride to the flamingos

Route overview

Suits riders of any level looking for a long but essentially flat 52.7 km circuit.

A flat 52.7 km loop from Al Thanyah 1 through Dubai's coastal suburbs to Business Bay and back, with just 42 m of climbing.

The loop starts in Al Thanyah 1, where cafés and restaurants cluster within the first few hundred metres, and heads through Al Thanyah 3 and Al Sufouh 2. The high point of the whole ride comes early, at 11 m above sea level 3.4 km in, and the road then drops to its lowest point of -2 m at 9.2 km, close to the string of seafood restaurants and cafés around Umm Suqeim 2 at 10.5 km. From there the route runs on through Al Safa, Jumeirah 3 and Jumeirah Island 2, past Al Safa 1 and into Business Bay at 20.6 km, skirting the Burj Khalifa district at 21.3 km. This is the inland corner of the loop, and it takes in Za'abeel 2 at 27.7 km and Al Wasl at 34.5 km. The return leg heads back seawards through Jumeirah 2, Umm Suqeim 1, Umm Suqeim and Umm Suqeim 3, then Al Sufouh 1 at 47.5 km before closing the circuit. With 42 m of gain spread over 52.7 km, and 54% of it in the first half, there is no sustained climbing anywhere on the route.

Highlights

• Business Bay and the Burj Khalifa district at around 21 km
• Coastal run through Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah
• High point of just 11 m at 3.4 km; low point of -2 m

Practical information

Surface

Paved

Route shape

Loop

Riding time

2–3 hours riding

Season

The single recording is from August, at 33°C, so cooler months are likely to be more comfortable.

Know before you go

• Recorded at 33°C in August - heat is the main concern
• No cafés or restaurants listed after 19.2 km until the finish

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