Road · United Arab Emirates
Kalba Hills Loop via Wahala and Hatta
A hilly 117 km road cycling loop from Kalba, Sharjah through Al Qilē'ī, Fayyad and Al ‘Ayn al Ghumūr, with 1,315 m of climbing over the As Simsimānīyah climb. Most of it (96.7 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 34.2 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 32 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 31–64).
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 117.1 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,315 m
- Riding time
- 4½–6 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 32 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Kalba
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,315 m
- 117 km
Route description
- Kalba
- Al Qilē'ī
- Fayyad
- Al ‘Ayn al Ghumūr
- Al Naslah
- Huwaylat
- As Simsimānīyah climb
- Hayl
- Al Qor
- Kalba
Starting from Kalba, the route passes through Al Qilē'ī at 7.4 km and continues to Minazif and Fayyad before reaching climbs starting at 3.2 km and 10.3 km with gradients up to 5%. A longer climb of 2.9 km averaging 5.3% occurs near Harrah and Shia around km 14. The route includes varied road types, with 48.8 km on main roads and 38.1 km on motorways, mostly without cycle lanes. The surface is mostly paved (95%) with 2% gravel and 3% unmapped. The ride features multiple climbs up to 5.7 km long, with the longest descent lasting 4.7 km. Key places visited include Al ‘Ayn al Ghumūr, Wahala, Hatta, and Munay. Facilities along the way include restaurants, cafés, fast food, kiosks, supermarkets, petrol stations at km 29.4, 63.6 and 87.5, and toilets near km 29.4, 74.8, and 80.5. There is a 32 km stretch without café, shop, or water from km 31.4 to 63.6. Peaks near the road include Jabal Al Miqsha, Jabal Naselah, Jabal Abu Samasimah, Jabal Laim, and Jabal Mudayrah.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the As Simsimānīyah climb (5.9 km at 3.2 %).
- Tops out at 507 m, 15.8 km in.
Highlights
- Climb of 2.9 km at 5.3% average gradient near Harrah
- Peaks near road: Jabal Al Miqsha (400 m), Jabal Abu Samasimah (550 m)
- Longest descent 4.7 km dropping 266 m
- 32 km without café, shop, or water between km 31.4 and 63.6
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 3.2 km | 1.9 km · 48 m · 2.6 % · max 3.6 % | — | 305 m |
| Unnamed climb | 10.3 km | 2.3 km · 52 m · 2.3 % · max 5 % | — | 323 m |
| Unnamed climb | 12.8 km | 2.9 km · 151 m · 5.3 % · max 10.2 % | — | 477 m |
| Unnamed climb | 20.4 km | 2.2 km · 59 m · 2.6 % · max 3.9 % | — | 258 m |
| Unnamed climb | 33.1 km | 1.6 km · 57 m · 3.7 % · max 8.2 % | — | 92 m |
| As Simsimānīyah climb | 64.1 km | 5.7 km · 187 m · 3.3 % · max 9.6 % | 5.9 km · 189 m · 3.2 % | 406 m |
| Unnamed climb | 75.7 km | 2 km · 48 m · 2.4 % · max 3.8 % | — | 366 m |
| Unnamed climb | 90.9 km | 2.9 km · 78 m · 2.7 % · max 4.2 % | — | 454 m |
As Simsimānīyah climb · full ascent, starts at 64.1 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 83% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 34.2 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 42% main road · 33% motorway · 8% major road · 6% minor road · 11% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 96.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 34.2 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (16 km), Al Watan Road (15 km), E44 (6 km), D30 (5 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 95% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 3% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 26% climbing · 22% descending · 52% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.8 km over 5% · 1 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 18% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 4.7 km from 23.5 km, dropping 266 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 32 km, from km 31 to 64. Along the route: 20 cafés and restaurants, 6 shops, 1 water point, 6 petrol stations and 7 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 23.9 kmHabib Beirut · restaurant · 60 m off route
- 29.4 kmStarbucks · café · on the route
- 29.4 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 29.4 kmADNOC · petrol station · 180 m off route
- 31.4 kmKiosk · 100 m off route
- 63.6 kmnaseem al howailat · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 63.6 kmADNOC · petrol station · 50 m off route
- 74.8 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 75.1 kmAl Yamm Cafe · café · 90 m off route
- 75.1 kmDrinking water · 150 m off route
- 79.2 kmStones and eagles cafe · kiosk · 100 m off route
- 80.5 kmToilets · 300 m off route
- 83.7 kmHatta Pharmacy LLC. · pharmacy · 30 m off route
- 84.8 kmZOOM · convenience store · 110 m off route
- 85 kmJust Burger · fast food · on the route
- 87.5 kmENOC · petrol station · 110 m off route
Worth a stop
- 23.9 km — Hanging Garden Kalba (attraction)
- 31.4 km — Wildlife observation (viewpoint)
- 43.2 km — Wahla Fort (castle)
- 49 km — Jabal Naselah (peak, 178 m)
- 80.7 km — Tower (viewpoint)
Know before you go
- 32 km without café, shop or water from km 31.4 to 63.6
- Nearly 97 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 34 km on roads with posted limits of 80 km/h or more
- 2% gravel or unpaved surface
