Road · United Arab Emirates
Fujairah Loop via Fayyad and Minazif
A mountainous 52 km road cycling loop from Fujairah through Fayyad, Al Uqdah and Minazif, with 992 m of climbing over the Harrah climb and Jabal Al Khasfah. Most of it (42.6 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 16.4 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 30 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 52 km
- Elevation gain
- 992 m
- Riding time
- 2½–3½ hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 30 km
- Best months
- Dec to Mar
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Fujairah
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 992 m
- 52 km
Route description
- Fujairah
- Fayyad
- Harrah climb
- Al Uqdah
- Al Ghail
- Al Saaf
- Jabal Al Khasfah
- Minazif
- Fujairah
The route starts in Al Fujayrah and heads to Fayyad at 2.5 km, then on to Al Uqdah at 21.9 km. The initial 8.5 km includes several climbs, including a 2.7 km ascent gaining 202 m at 7.5% average gradient with a maximum of 29.3%. After reaching 530 m elevation at 8.5 km, there is a longest descent of 8.5 km dropping 224 m to 3 m elevation by 30.7 km.
The route continues through Al Ghail, Al Saaf, Minazif, and Al Qilē'ī before returning to Al Fujayrah. It is mostly paved (91%) with 3% gravel or unpaved, and 6% unmapped surface. The roads include 37% motorway and 37% main roads, with 42.6 km of main roads lacking cycle lanes and 16.4 km on roads with posted limits of 80 km/h or more. Notable climbs later include a 4 km climb gaining 253 m at 6.3% and shorter climbs up to 7.2%. The route is a loop starting and finishing at Al Fujayrah.
There is a long 29.9 km stretch at the start with no café, shop, or water available. After this, around 31 km, there are amenities including a Starbucks café, Habib Beirut restaurant, a petrol station (ADNOC), and toilets. The Hanging Garden Kalba attraction is nearby. The route is best ridden in December with recorded temperatures around 25 °C.
Why ride this route?
- The most climbing per kilometre of the 10 rides from Fujairah: 19 m per km.
- Climbs the Harrah climb (3.1 km at 5.1 %) and Jabal Al Khasfah (4.2 km at 6.4 %).
- Tops out at 530 m, 8.5 km in.
- An 8.5 km descent dropping 224 m.
Highlights
- Climb reaching 530 m at 8.5 km
- Longest descent: 8.5 km dropping 224 m
- Hanging Garden Kalba near the route
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0.6 km | 1.3 km · 45 m · 3.4 % · max 5.1 % | — | 275 m |
| Unnamed climb | 3.6 km | 1.5 km · 45 m · 3 % · max 5.3 % | — | 323 m |
| Harrah climb | 5.8 km | 2.7 km · 202 m · 7.5 % · steepest 500 m 9.7 % | 3.1 km · 158 m · 5.1 % | 530 m |
| Unnamed climb | 14.8 km | 1.6 km · 56 m · 3.6 % · max 6.3 % | — | 238 m |
| Jabal Al Khasfah | 34.1 km | 4 km · 253 m · 6.3 % | 4.2 km · 273 m · 6.4 % | 278 m |
| Unnamed climb | 43.4 km | 1.3 km · 93 m · 7.2 % · max 13.1 % | — | 268 m |
| Unnamed climb | 46.3 km | 3.5 km · 132 m · 3.8 % · max 8.4 % | — | 314 m |
Harrah climb · full ascent, starts at 5.8 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Jabal Al Khasfah · full ascent, starts at 34 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 82% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 16.4 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 37% motorway · 37% main road · 8% major road · 8% other · 10% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 42.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 16.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (19 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 91% is mapped as paved, 3% as unpaved or gravel and 6% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 33% climbing · 41% descending · 27% flat
- Steep sections
- 7.7 km over 5% · 2.6 km over 8% · 1.7 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 18% at 37.4 km
- Longest descent
- 8.5 km from 18.2 km, dropping 224 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 30 km, from the start. Along the route: 7 cafés and restaurants, 1 petrol station and 1 public toilet.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 28.1 kmKalba Health Center · clinic · 110 m off route
- 31.3 kmADNOC · petrol station · 60 m off route
- 31.7 kmStarbucks · café · on the route
- 31.7 kmToilets · on the route
- 37.3 kmHabib Beirut · restaurant · 80 m off route
Worth a stop
- 37.3 km — Hanging Garden Kalba (attraction)
Know before you go
- 29.9 km with no café, shop or water from start
- 42.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 16.4 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
