Road · United Arab Emirates
Kalba Loop via Khor Kalba and Wahala Fort
A hilly 94 km road cycling loop from Al Qilē'ī, Sharjah through Wahala, Al Quala'a and Al Aoud, with 1,279 m of climbing over Jabal Al Khasfah and Al Fujayrah climb (265 m). Most of it (76.4 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 20.9 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 31 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 94.1 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,279 m
- Riding time
- 3½–5 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 31 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Al Qilē'ī
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,279 m
- 94 km
Route description
- Al Qilē'ī
- Wahala
- Al Quala'a
- Al Aoud
- Al Musalla
- Al Bhaies
- Suhaila
- Al Fujayrah climb (265 m)
- Jabal Al Khasfah
- Al Qilē'ī
This 94 km loop starts at Kalba, situated at 0 km, and quickly climbs for 1.6 km at 5.1% average gradient reaching 315 m elevation early at 1.9 km. The route crosses several places including Wahala at 19 km, Al Ghail around 34 km, and Kalba Beach Road near 40 km. Initial climbing is mainly in the first third of the ride, with a mix of steep sections up to 13.8% and overall climbing of 908 m across the route.
Road surfaces are 98% paved with no gravel sections and 44% of the route on main roads, including 30% on motorway and 8% on major roads. There are 20.9 km on fast roads with posted speeds over 80 km/h and 76.4 km on main roads lacking cycle lanes. Facilities such as cafés, restaurants, and shops are predominantly found around 30 to 45 km with a Starbucks café close to 32.9 km and nearby toilets, plus several restaurants by 70-78 km, but there is a 31 km stretch without café, shop or water from the start.
Later climbs include a 7.5% average gradient over 2.6 km at 75.7 km with a max of 16.8%, and smaller climbs towards the end. The highest peak near the road is Jabal Al Khasfah at 464 m near 71 km. The ride has a long descent of 4.9 km starting around 12.3 km, dropping 84 m. This route is best done in February with temperatures around 28 °C.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs Al Fujayrah climb (265 m) (2.6 km at 7.5 %) and Jabal Al Khasfah (4.2 km at 6.4 %).
- Tops out at 315 m, 1.9 km in.
Highlights
- Early climb to 315 m at 1.9 km
- Wahala Fort near 19 km
- Pass beneath Jabal Al Khasfah at 71.1 km
- Long 4.9 km descent from 12.3 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0.3 km | 1.6 km · 81 m · 5.1 % · max 13.8 % | — | 315 m |
| Unnamed climb | 5.2 km | 1.7 km · 89 m · 5.4 % · max 12.1 % | — | 263 m |
| Unnamed climb | 26.3 km | 1.4 km · 44 m · 3.1 % · max 6.7 % | — | 94 m |
| Unnamed climb | 56.9 km | 5.1 km · 112 m · 2.2 % · max 3.1 % | — | 170 m |
| Unnamed climb | 62.3 km | 2.3 km · 97 m · 4.2 % · max 8.3 % | — | 269 m |
| Unnamed climb | 67.9 km | 2.7 km · 84 m · 3.1 % · max 6 % | — | 284 m |
| Al Fujayrah climb (265 m) | 75.7 km | 2.6 km · 196 m · 7.5 % · max 16.8 % | 2.6 km · 195 m · 7.5 % | 281 m |
| Jabal Al Khasfah | 75.7 km | — | 4.2 km · 273 m · 6.4 % | 289 m |
| Unnamed climb | 83.4 km | 1.5 km · 82 m · 5.7 % · max 13.7 % | — | 267 m |
| Unnamed climb | 86.1 km | 1.9 km · 71 m · 3.8 % · max 6.8 % | — | 233 m |
| Unnamed climb | 88.2 km | 1.8 km · 82 m · 4.7 % · max 10.7 % | — | 306 m |
Al Fujayrah climb (265 m) · full ascent, starts at 75.7 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Jabal Al Khasfah · full ascent, starts at 75.7 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 81% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 20.9 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 44% main road · 30% motorway · 10% minor road · 8% major road · 8% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 76.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 20.9 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (28 km), Mohammed Bin Zayed City (6 km), Kalba Beach Road (6 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved.
- Gradient
- 26% climbing · 23% descending · 52% flat
- Steep sections
- 7 km over 5% · 2.7 km over 8% · 1.3 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 16.4% at 78.6 km
- Longest descent
- 4.9 km from 12.3 km, dropping 84 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 31 km, from the start. Along the route: 12 cafés and restaurants, 2 shops, 1 petrol station and 2 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 31 kmKiosk · 120 m off route
- 32.9 kmStarbucks · café · 70 m off route
- 32.9 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 33 kmADNOC · petrol station · 100 m off route
- 36.1 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 200 m off route
- 41.9 kmAl Zaytoon · pharmacy · 100 m off route
- 42.7 kmBent Al Noketha Restaurant · restaurant · on the route
- 70.5 kmLa Brasseria · restaurant · 40 m off route
- 77.5 kmHabib Beirut · restaurant · 110 m off route
Worth a stop
- 19 km — Wahla Fort (castle)
- 30.8 km — Wildlife observation (viewpoint)
- 35.7 km — Visit Center of Khor Kalba Mangrove Reserve (attraction)
- 43.2 km — Kalba Fort (castle)
- 77.5 km — Hanging Garden Kalba (attraction)
Know before you go
- 31 km with no café, shop or water from 0 to 31 km
- 76.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 20.9 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
