Road · United Arab Emirates
Munay to Kalba via Al Uqdah and Al Maqt'a
A hilly 69 km road cycling route from Munay, Sharjah to Kalba via Al Uqdah and Al Maqt'a through Fayyad, Al Uqdah and Al Maqt'a, with 966 m of climbing. Most of it (49.6 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 24.4 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 46 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 68.6 km
- Elevation gain
- 966 m
- Riding time
- 2½–3½ hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 46 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Munay → Kalba via Al Uqdah and Al Maqt'a
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 966 m
- 69 km
Route description
- Munay
- Fayyad
- Harrah
- Shia
- Al Uqdah
- Al Ghail
- Al Saaf
- Al Maqt'a
- Minazif
- Kalba via Al Uqdah and Al Maqt'a
Starting in Kalba, the route passes Munay at 5.3 km then Fayyad at 20.1 km where the first climb begins. It features several climbs including a steep 2.8 km section averaging 7.3% with a maximum gradient of 34.6%, reaching the highest point at 534 m near 25 km. The route continues through Harrah, Shia, Al Uqdah, and Al Ghail before descending to a low point at 3 m around 47.1 km.
The route surface is mostly paved (79%) with 4% gravel or unpaved and 17% unmapped. Road types include 27.1 km on motorway and 18.3 km on main roads, with 49.6 km of main roads lacking cycle lanes. The longest named road is Sharjah - Kalba Road (27.1 km).
There are no cafés or water available for the first 46.3 km. Facilities then appear between 47 and 54 km including a petrol station, toilets, a café (Starbucks), a restaurant (Habib Beirut), and an attraction (Hanging Garden Kalba) slightly off route. This is the first chance to refuel or stop on the ride.
Why ride this route?
- The shortest of the 17 rides from Kalba, yet it climbs 966 m.
- Tops out at 534 m, 25 km in.
- A 10.9 km descent dropping 258 m.
Highlights
- Highest point 534 m near 25 km
- Steep 2.8 km climb at 7.3% avg gradient
- Longest descent of 10.9 km dropping 258 m
- Facilities at 48-54 km including café and restaurant
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 20.1 km | 1.5 km · 40 m · 2.6 % · max 5.4 % | 323 m |
| Unnamed climb | 22.2 km | 2.8 km · 207 m · 7.3 % · steepest 500 m 8.6 % | 534 m |
| Unnamed climb | 31.3 km | 1.8 km · 56 m · 3.1 % · max 6.4 % | 238 m |
| Unnamed climb | 50.3 km | 3.6 km · 253 m · 7 % | 276 m |
| Unnamed climb | 59.7 km | 1.4 km · 93 m · 6.8 % · max 13.7 % | 268 m |
| Unnamed climb | 62.5 km | 3.7 km · 134 m · 3.7 % · max 8.6 % | 314 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 72% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 24.4 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 40% motorway · 27% main road · 6% major road · 6% other · 8% other roads and tracks · 13% unmapped
- Main roads
- 49.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 24.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (27 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 79% is mapped as paved, 4% as unpaved or gravel and 17% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 24% climbing · 30% descending · 47% flat
- Steep sections
- 7.2 km over 5% · 2.7 km over 8% · 1.4 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 20.6% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 10.9 km from 34.9 km, dropping 258 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 46 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
- 44.6 kmKalba Health Center · clinic · 140 m off route
- 47.7 kmADNOC · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 48.1 kmStarbucks · café · 30 m off route
- 48.1 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 53.7 kmHabib Beirut · restaurant · 90 m off route
Worth a stop
- 53.7 km — Hanging Garden Kalba (attraction)
Know before you go
- 49.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 24.4 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- 4% gravel or unpaved surface
- No café, shop or water for 46.3 km from start
