Road · United Arab Emirates
Yaif to Kalba via Al Uqdah and Wahala
A hilly 97 km road cycling route from Yaif, Sharjah to Kalba via Al Uqdah and Wahala through Al Qor, Sha'biyyat Milāḩ and Al Wa'ab, with 1,184 m of climbing. Most of it (87.6 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 43.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 48 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 97.1 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,184 m
- Riding time
- 4½–6 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 48 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Yaif → Kalba via Al Uqdah and Wahala
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,184 m
- 97 km
Route description
- Yaif
- Al Qor
- Sha'biyyat Milāḩ
- Al Wa'ab
- Munay
- Al Saaf
- Al Maqt'a
- Al ‘Ayn al Ghumūr
- Minazif
- Kalba via Al Uqdah and Wahala
This 97.1 km route starts at Kalba and passes through several small towns including Yaif (2 km), Al Qor (4.4 km), and Munay (15.3 km). The route contains a series of climbs, with the steepest being 1.5 km at 5.1% average and peaking at 13.6%, near 23.5 km. Other notable climbs range between 1.3 and 3.1 km in length with gradients mostly between 2.5% and 6.2%. The highest point near the road is Jabal Al Miqsha at 400 m, located about 21.9 km along the way.
The road surface is mostly paved (99%), with only 1% gravel or unpaved. The route runs predominantly on motorway (47%), main road (41%), and some minor or major roads, with 87.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane and 43.3 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. The longest continuous stretch without a café, shop or water is almost 48 km from the start. Facilities such as a Starbucks café, toilets, a kiosk, and a petrol station (ADNOC) are clustered around 49-52 km, near the Wildlife observation viewpoint. Wahla Fort lies near 63.5 km, slightly off route.
The profile is mixed with flats making up 50%, climbing 23%, and descending 27%. The route features a descent up to 8.1 km long dropping 157 m from about 40 km. It runs through the Hajar Mountains region and ends at Kalba. The ride was recorded in April, the only month noted.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 334 m, 0 km in.
- An 8.1 km descent dropping 157 m.
Highlights
- Jabal Al Miqsha peak near 22 km
- Longest descent 8.1 km from 39.7 km
- Wildlife observation viewpoint at 52 km
- Wahla Fort near 63.5 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 12.4 km | 1.3 km · 44 m · 3.4 % · max 6.2 % | 278 m |
| Unnamed climb | 18.8 km | 1.8 km · 49 m · 2.7 % · max 4 % | 305 m |
| Unnamed climb | 23.5 km | 1.5 km · 78 m · 5.1 % · max 13.6 % | 315 m |
| Unnamed climb | 28.4 km | 1.8 km · 92 m · 5.3 % · max 11.8 % | 267 m |
| Unnamed climb | 33.3 km | 3.1 km · 89 m · 2.9 % · max 6.4 % | 270 m |
| Unnamed climb | 52.6 km | 2.8 km · 84 m · 3 % · max 7.7 % | 95 m |
| Unnamed climb | 69.2 km | 1.9 km · 46 m · 2.5 % · max 3.7 % | 186 m |
| Unnamed climb | 74.5 km | 1.5 km · 90 m · 6.2 % · max 13.4 % | 267 m |
| Unnamed climb | 77 km | 1.9 km · 68 m · 3.6 % · max 6.9 % | 231 m |
| Unnamed climb | 79.3 km | 1.6 km · 90 m · 5.6 % · max 10.5 % | 303 m |
| Unnamed climb | 82.9 km | 2 km · 67 m · 3.4 % · max 5.1 % | 308 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 90% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 43.3 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 47% motorway · 41% main road · 6% minor road · 3% major road · 3% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 87.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 43.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (36 km), Al Watan Road (4 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 23% climbing · 27% descending · 50% flat
- Steep sections
- 5.4 km over 5% · 2 km over 8% · 1.1 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 21.4% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 8.1 km from 39.7 km, dropping 157 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 48 km, from the start. Along the route: 4 cafés and restaurants, 1 shop, 1 petrol station and 2 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 46.1 kmKalba Health Center · clinic · 160 m off route
- 49.8 kmStarbucks · café · on the route
- 49.8 kmToilets · on the route
- 49.8 kmADNOC · petrol station · 80 m off route
- 51.9 kmKiosk · 100 m off route
Worth a stop
- 51.9 km — Wildlife observation (viewpoint)
- 63.5 km — Wahla Fort (castle)
Know before you go
- 47.9 km without café, shop, or water from start
- 87.6 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 43.3 km on fast roads (80 km/h+)
- 1% gravel or unpaved surface
