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Kalba Loop via Shawka and Munay

155 km road cycling loop1,711 m climbing6–8½ hoursGPX

Kalba, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates · Road

A hilly 155 km road cycling loop from Kalba, Sharjah through Esfini, Al Uqdah and Al Bateen, with 1,711 m of climbing over Ishwais climb (243 m) and the Far`ah climb. Most of it (125.2 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 58.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 55 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 34–89).

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Saturday 10th December 2022

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At a glance

Best for
Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
154.9 km
Loop
Elevation gain
1,711 m
11 m per km
Riding time
6–8½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
95% paved · 2% unpaved · 4% no data
Traffic
Mostly main roads
125.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 58.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more
Food & water
Longest gap 55 km
59 cafés and restaurants · 15 shops · 2 water points · 9 petrol stations · 4 public toilets · 2 bike shops
Best months
Dec to Feb
Kalba climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Kalba

Map and elevation profile

On the road: Kalba Loop via Shawka and Munay, Kalba

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,711 m
Distance
155 km
0200400600800m0 km50100155 km622 m · highest, at 71.8 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Kalba
  2. Esfinikm 10
  3. Fayyad climbkm 64
  4. Al Uqdahkm 80
  5. Al Bateenkm 97
  6. Al Husenkm 99
  7. Al Hilalkm 109
  8. Ishwais climb (243 m)km 114
  9. Far`ah climbkm 128
  10. Kalbakm 155

This 154.9 km loop starts and finishes in Kalba, passing through places such as Esfini, Kadrah, Shawka, Munay, and Fayyad before returning to Kalba and continuing through several other settlements including Sour Kalba and Al Sharia. The route features mainly paved surfaces (95%), with 2% gravel or unpaved and 4% unmapped. Roads vary from main roads (38%) and motorways (26%) to minor roads, quiet streets, tracks, and paths. The longest main roads without cycle lanes cover 125.2 km, with 58.3 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more.

Why ride this route?

  • Climbs the Fayyad climb (5.3 km at 3.4 %), Ishwais climb (243 m) (4.5 km at 5.3 %) and the Far`ah climb (7.3 km at 4.1 %).
  • Tops out at 571 m, 71.1 km in.
  • An 11 km descent dropping 258 m.

Highlights

  • Beneath Jabal Al Hinnah (637 m) at 37.8 km
  • Longest descent of 11 km dropping 258 m from 77.3 km
  • Climb of 8.1 km starting at 128.3 km to 475 m
  • Visit Kalba and Sour Kalba towns along the route

Along the route

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

Places passed

  1. Esfini 9.9 km
  2. Kadrah 22.1 km
  3. Shariyah 32.6 km
  4. Shawka 32.9 km
  5. Munay 54.6 km
  6. Al Qilē'ī 60.9 km
  7. Minazif 61.5 km
  8. Fayyad 63.5 km
  9. Harrah 67.3 km
  10. Shia 67.9 km
  11. Al Uqdah 79.5 km
  12. Al Saaf 86.3 km
  13. Al Ghail 86.3 km
  14. Al Maqt'a 91.3 km
  15. Al Quala'a 94.3 km
  16. Khawr Kalba 94.6 km
  17. Al Mafraq 94.9 km
  18. Al Nighala 95.2 km
  19. Al Bardi 95.9 km
  20. Al Aoud 95.9 km
  21. Kalba 96.2 km
  22. Al Sidrah 96.6 km
  23. Al Bateen 96.6 km
  24. Al Qadesia 96.6 km
  25. Hitteen 97.2 km
  26. Al Musalla 97.2 km
  27. Al Khuwair 97.2 km
  28. Dhyatt 97.9 km
  29. Al Mughaider 98.2 km
  30. A'quola 98.5 km
  31. Al Mahatta 98.5 km
  32. Al Bhaies 98.8 km
  33. Darweshia 99.2 km
  34. Al Husen 99.4 km
  35. Suhaila 99.7 km
  36. Sour Kalba 100.6 km
  37. Rughaylat 102.2 km
  38. Al Gurfaa 103.1 km
  39. Ghalala 104.3 km
  40. Safad 104.3 km
  41. Owaid 105.5 km
  42. Al Faseel 106.2 km
  43. Al Sharia 107.9 km
  44. Al Sharia 1 108.2 km
  45. Al Hilal 108.7 km
  46. Ishwais 113.4 km
  47. Sakamkam 114.6 km
  48. Yabsa 120.8 km
  49. Al Ghizaimri 127.4 km
  50. Al Farfar 127.4 km
  51. Far`ah 128.5 km
  52. Madouk 130.7 km
  53. Mamduh 140.1 km
  54. Rima 142.1 km
  55. Esfai 151 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideFull ascentTop on this ride
Unnamed climb34.6 km2.9 km · 89 m · 3.1 % · max 5.1 %—371 m
Unnamed climb39.6 km3.5 km · 103 m · 2.9 % · max 5.9 %—482 m
Fayyad climb64.1 km4.9 km · 157 m · 3.2 % · max 9.5 %5.3 km · 180 m · 3.4 %424 m
Ishwais climb (243 m)114 km4.6 km · 241 m · 5.2 % · max 12.2 %4.5 km · 240 m · 5.3 %247 m
Far`ah climb128.3 km8.1 km · 337 m · 4.2 % · max 7.4 %7.3 km · 296 m · 4.1 %475 m
Unnamed climb146.3 km5.2 km · 120 m · 2.3 % · max 5.2 %—484 m

High point 571 m at 71.1 km; low point 1 m. Passes beneath Jabal Ash Shibkah, Jabal Al Hinnah, Jabal Ash Shahayrah.

On this ride: the part this route climbs, cut from its own elevation profile. Full ascent: the whole named climb, measured the same way on every ride that uses it (its climb page).

Fayyad climb · full ascent, starts at 63.7 km

5.3 km at 3.4% · 180 m
300350400450500550m1.6%5.4%8.2%8.3%8.3%0 km123456.3 km641 msteepest 8.3%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Ishwais climb (243 m) · full ascent, starts at 114 km

4.5 km at 5.3% · 240 m
50100150200m3.6%5.7%11%0 km12344.6 km243 msteepest 10.5%

Far`ah climb · full ascent, starts at 128.4 km

7.3 km at 4.1% · 296 m
250300350400450m5.5%4.0%4.5%4.7%0 km123456.2 km476 msteepest 5.5%

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

This is not a cycle-track route: 81% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 58.3 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
38% main road · 26% motorway · 18% major road · 8% minor road · 10% other roads and tracks
Main roads
125.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
58.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
Sharjah - Kalba Road (26 km), H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Freeway (12 km), Yabsa Bypass Road (10 km), Kalba Beach Road (5 km)
Surface
Paved: 95% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 4% has no surface data.
Gradient
23% climbing · 25% descending · 52% flat
Steep sections
7.1 km over 5% · 3.3 km over 8% · 2 km over 10%
Longest descent
11 km from 77.3 km, dropping 258 m

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.

The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 55 km, from km 34 to 89. Along the route: 59 cafés and restaurants, 15 shops, 2 water points, 9 petrol stations, 4 public toilets and 2 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 9.9 kmConvenience store · 230 m off route
  2. 10.5 kmHospital · 150 m off route
  3. 22.4 kmKadrah Health Center · clinic · 70 m off route
  4. 32.9 kmDrinking water · on the route
  5. 33.2 kmRestaurant · 110 m off route
  6. 34.6 kmShowka Bicycles · bike shop · 450 m off route
  7. 47.8 kmToilets · 110 m off route
  8. 85.5 kmKalba Health Center · clinic · 190 m off route
  9. 88.7 kmToilets · 120 m off route
  10. 89.3 kmWALFA CAFE · café · 120 m off route
  11. 91.7 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 220 m off route
  12. 99.8 kmTamm Cafe · café · 60 m off route
  13. 102.3 kmAkbar Supermarket · convenience store · 320 m off route
  14. 102.9 kmToilets · 90 m off route
  15. 104.1 kmBike rental · 90 m off route
  16. 108 kmStarbucks · café · 70 m off route
  17. 108.6 kmZOOM · convenience store · on the route
  18. 108.6 kmENOC · petrol station · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 109.1 km — Fujairah Station (station), 590 m off route

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

Worth a stop

  • 92 km — Visit Center of Khor Kalba Mangrove Reserve (attraction)
  • 99.5 km — Kalba Fort (castle)
  • 103.2 km — Bull fighting (Bullring) (attraction)

Know before you go

  • 55.2 km stretch without café, shop or water between 33.5 km and 88.7 km
  • 125.2 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 58.3 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limits or higher
  • 7.1 km climbing over 5% gradient including 3.3 km over 8% and 2 km over 10%

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

3 photographs from the road

About this route

Ridden by
Marcus
Date ridden
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 Kalba (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

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Also over Ishwais climb (243 m)

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