Cyclists.com

To the Flamingos via the Canal. Out and Back

53 km road cycling loop14 m climbing2–3 hoursGPX

Dubai, United Arab Emirates · Road

A flat 53 km road cycling loop from The Greens through Al Sufouh 2, Umm Suqeim 2 and Jumeirah 3, with 14 m of climbing. 59% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.

Route contributed by Marcus and Stefan · Last ridden Monday 25th August 2025

Download GPXMap

At a glance

Best for
Steady riding away from traffic
Distance
52.7 km
Loop
Elevation gain
14 m
Riding time
2–3 hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Easy
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
83% paved · 2% unpaved · 16% no data
Traffic
Mostly cycle paths
3.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 31.2 km on cycle paths or lanes
Food & water
Regular
301 cafés and restaurants · 47 shops · 2 water points · 8 petrol stations · 18 public toilets · 17 bike shops
Best months
Dec to Feb
Dubai climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
The Greens

Map and elevation profile

On the road: To the Flamingos via the Canal. Out and Back, Dubai

Elevation profile

Total ascent
14 m
Distance
53 km
-20020m0 km204053 km9 m · highest, at 6.3 kmStartFinish · back at the start

What it was like to ride

Route description

  1. The Greens
  2. Al Sufouh 2km 4
  3. Umm Suqeim 2km 11
  4. Jumeirah 3km 15
  5. Al Safa 1km 18
  6. Burj Khalifakm 21
  7. Al Waslkm 35
  8. Umm Suqeim 1km 41
  9. Umm Suqeim 3km 45
  10. The Greenskm 53

Starting at Al Thanyah 1 near Dubai, the route heads through Al Thanyah 3, Al Sufouh 2, and Umm Suqeim 2 before reaching Jumeirah Island 2 at 15.9 km. It then continues to Burj Khalifa and Za'abeel 2, dropping to a low point of -5 m at 28.7 km. The highest point at 9 m occurs near 6.1 km. The ride includes 31.2 km on cycle paths and lanes, 9.3 km on other paths, and smaller shares on quiet streets, main roads, minor roads, and a short motorway section. The route follows Canal Walk for 15 km.

Surface is mainly paved with 83%, 2% gravel or unpaved, and 16% unmapped. The profile is mostly flat with 99% flat terrain and only 1% climbing and descending, with no climbs exceeding 5% gradient. The steepest 500 m section is 1.3% gradient at 34.6 km. Cafés, shops, water points, toilets, bike rental and petrol stations are available regularly, with the longest stretch without amenities being 3.7 km between 3.3 and 7 km. Bailout points include stations and ferry access.

Why ride this route?

  • 59% on cycle paths or lanes.

Highlights

  • Flamingo Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary near 27 km
  • Burj Khalifa area at 21.3 km
  • Jumeirah Beach at 14.9 km
  • Canal Walk for 15 km

Along the route

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

Places passed

  1. Al Sufouh 2 3.5 km
  2. Umm Suqeim 2 10.5 km
  3. Al Safa 13.6 km
  4. Jumeirah 3 14.8 km
  5. Jumeirah Island 2 15.9 km
  6. Al Safa 1 18.4 km
  7. Business Bay 20.6 km
  8. Burj Khalifa 21.3 km
  9. Za'abeel 2 27.7 km
  10. Al Wasl 34.5 km
  11. Jumeirah 2 36.4 km
  12. Umm Suqeim 1 41.1 km
  13. Umm Suqeim 42.7 km
  14. Umm Suqeim 3 45 km
  15. Al Sufouh 1 47.5 km

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Much of the route is separated from traffic: 59% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.

Roads
60% cycle path · 18% path · 13% quiet street · 5% main road · 4% other roads and tracks
Main roads
3.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Cycle paths
31.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
Canal Walk (15 km)
Surface
Paved: 83% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 16% has no surface data.
Gradient
1% climbing · 1% descending · 99% 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.

No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 301 cafés and restaurants, 47 shops, 2 water points, 8 petrol stations, 18 public toilets and 17 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 2.3 kmBoon Coffee Roasters · café · 90 m off route
  2. 3.1 kmCircle K · supermarket · 100 m off route
  3. 8.8 kmMed Art Clinic Day Surgery Centre · clinic · 110 m off route
  4. 9.9 kmToilets · 30 m off route
  5. 12.9 kmEmarat · petrol station · on the route
  6. 13.5 kmBW Cafe · café · on the route
  7. 18.6 kmCareem Bike · bike rental · on the route
  8. 21.6 kmLife Pharmacy · pharmacy · 60 m off route
  9. 22.8 kmToilets · on the route
  10. 26.8 kmAbukadra Cafe · café · 120 m off route
  11. 26.8 kmToilets · on the route
  12. 31.8 kmS'wich · café · 290 m off route
  13. 34.8 kmGolden Villas · bike rental · 130 m off route
  14. 36.8 kmEternal Poly Clinic · clinic · 30 m off route
  15. 39.9 kmWater tap · on the route
  16. 43.9 kmSingle Fin Cafe · café · 110 m off route
  17. 44.1 kmToiletten · toilets · 40 m off route
  18. 51 kmHive Board Game Café · café · 90 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 3.3 kmPalm Gateway (station), 710 m off route
  • 20.9 kmMarasi MTS (ferry), 30 m off route
  • 29.2 kmDubai Design District MTS (ferry), on the route
  • 36.9 kmDubai Canal (ferry), 350 m off route
  • 47.4 kmInsuranceMarket (station), 1.5 km off route

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

Worth a stop

  • 2.5 kmARN Arabian Radio Network (viewpoint)
  • 11 kmUmm Suqeim Night Swimming Beach (attraction)
  • 14.9 kmJumeirah Beach (attraction)
  • 26.8 kmWildlife Sanctuary (Flamingo Lagoon) (viewpoint)
  • 49.1 kmAl Sufouh Archaeological Site (archaeological site)

Start and access

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

At the start and finish

Food and coffee
Caribou (150 m), Nando's (130 m), Hive Board Game Café (510 m)
Shops
Bluemart Supermarket (280 m), Al Maya (450 m)

Know before you go

  • 3.4 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • A short 0.6 km section on motorway
  • Longest stretch without cafe, shop, or water is 3.7 km from 3.3 to 7 km

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

15 photographs from the road

About this route

Ridden by
Marcus and Stefan
Dates ridden
to · 2 recordings
Route line
Built from 2 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

See something wrong with this ride?

Similar length from Dubai

More climbing