Jidd Hafs – Dar Kulayb
A flat 91 km road cycling loop from حي النعيم, Manama through Manama, Diplomatic Area and Dar Kulayb, with 111 m of climbing. Most of it (78.2 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 71.1 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 25 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 11–35).
At a glance
- Best for
- Flat, steady riding for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 90.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 111 m
- Riding time
- 2½–3½ hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 25 km
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- حي النعيم
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 111 m
- 91 km
Route description
- حي النعيم
- Manama
- Diplomatic Area
- Hillat Abdul Saleh
- Al Qadam
- Dar Kulayb
- A'ali
- Daih
- Sanabis
- حي النعيم
The route begins in Jidd Hafs and heads through a series of urban settlements including حي النعيم at 1.2 km, Manama at 2.2 km, ثم رأس رمان and the Diplomatic Area around 3 km, and Seef at 7.8 km. The first third of the ride is predominantly flat, riding on 100% paved surface over motorways and main roads such as Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Highway and Gulf of Bahrain Avenue. Motorway sections make up 57% of the route, with 30% on main roads and minor amounts on minor roads, quiet streets, and cycle paths.
After passing Dar Kulayb at 28.1 km and Zallaq at 35.4 km, the ride continues through less densely populated regions before reaching A'ali at 75.7 km. The highest point on the route is at 41 m elevation at 71.1 km, but the profile is 99% flat with negligible gradients. There is a longest uninterrupted stretch of 24.5 km without café, shops, or water between 10.6 km and 35.1 km, so planning refuelling early or late on this section is advised.
The ride passes several other towns including Hamad Town and Abu Quwah, with opportunities to stop at cafés, supermarkets, and restaurants near Manama start and finish areas. Notable food stops include Coffee Store, Al Sherra Restaurant and Cafe, and Dunkin' Donuts, while shops include Mega Mart and LuLu Hypermarket. Toilets and bike rentals are also available within the first 40 km or so.
Highlights
- Passing through Manama and Diplomatic Area
- Longest named road: Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Highway (44 km)
- Highest point 41 m at 71.1 km
- Places like Dar Kulayb at 28 km and A'ali at 75.7 km
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 86% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 71.1 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 57% motorway · 30% main road · 4% minor road · 4% other · 5% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 78.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 71.1 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Highway (44 km), Gulf of Bahrain Avenue (15 km), King Faisal Highway (6 km), Zallaq Highway (5 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 100% of the route is mapped as paved.
- Gradient
- 0% climbing · 1% descending · 99% flat
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 25 km, from km 11 to 35. Along the route: 89 cafés and restaurants, 29 shops, 1 water point, 5 petrol stations, 2 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.8 kmالنعيم للبترول · petrol station · 290 m off route
- 1 kmCoffee Store · café · 170 m off route
- 1.2 kmMega Mart · supermarket · 190 m off route
- 2 kmDrinking water · 250 m off route
- 4.8 kmToilets · on the route
- 5.1 kmAl Sherra Restaurant and Cafe · café · 90 m off route
- 6.8 kmTulip medical centre · hospital · 80 m off route
- 9.7 kmمحطة جواد للوقود · petrol station · 230 m off route
- 10.5 kmBiscotti Bakery & Cafe · bakery · 70 m off route
- 24.6 kmYou+ · pharmacy · 510 m off route
- 33.9 kmModern Pharmacy · pharmacy · 560 m off route
- 35.2 kmDunkin' Donuts · café · 120 m off route
- 38.5 kmBike rental · 130 m off route
- 38.5 kmGravity Indoor Skydiving · petrol station · 80 m off route
- 47.3 kmzallaq beach · restaurant · 110 m off route
- 62.5 kmThe Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf · café · 130 m off route
- 80.2 kmSulwan Psychiatric Hospital · hospital · 140 m off route
- 83.9 kmBurgerland · restaurant · 160 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 3.2 km — Ferry, 570 m off route
Worth a stop
- 2 km — مقهى الجندول (attraction)
- 6.6 km — Wahooo Water park (attraction)
- 19.5 km — سوق الفخار (viewpoint)
- 31.2 km — Bahrain National Charter Monument (monument)
- 56.4 km — Bahrain International Circuit (attraction)
- 75.7 km — Dilmun Burial Mounds (A'ali) (archaeological site)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Food and coffee
- Al Sherra Restaurant and Cafe (750 m), Coffee Store (920 m), Movenpick (930 m)
- Shops
- Carrefour (720 m), Mega Mart (950 m), Central Fish Market Manama (890 m)
Know before you go
- 24.5 km stretch without café, shop or water from km 10.6 to 35.1
- 78.2 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 71.1 km on fast roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit