Road · United Arab Emirates
Munay Loop via Kalba Corniche and Yabsa
A hilly 111 km road cycling loop from Kalba, Sharjah through Al Saaf, Al Nighala and Hitteen, with 1,340 m of climbing over Ishwais climb (243 m). Most of it (88.6 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 51.8 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 44 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 66–109).
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 110.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,340 m
- Riding time
- 4–5½ hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 44 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Kalba
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,340 m
- 111 km
Route description
- Kalba
- Al Saaf
- Al Nighala
- Hitteen
- Al Bhaies
- Rughaylat
- Al Sharia
- Ishwais climb (243 m)
- Haleefath
- Kalba
Starting from Kalba, the route heads through numerous small places including Al Saaf, Al Ghail, Al Maqt'a, and others, before returning to Kalba after 110.7 km. The profile features several climbs, notably early climbs at 3.1 km (2 km at 2.5%), 7.7 km (1.7 km at 4.3%), and 12.7 km (1.7 km at 5.3%), reaching the highest point of 315 m near 9.4 km. Later significant climbing includes a 4.4 km section raising 238 m from 49.1 km at 5.4% average gradient with max 12.1%. Total elevation gain is 990 m over the loop, with climbs scattered along the route mainly before and after the halfway mark.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs Ishwais climb (243 m) (4.5 km at 5.3 %).
- Tops out at 315 m, 9.4 km in.
- A 6.3 km descent dropping 159 m.
Highlights
- Climb to 315m at 9.4 km
- Passes beneath Jabal Al Miqsha (400m)
- Extended 4.4 km climb at 49.1 km
- Longest descent of 6.3 km from 54.1 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 3.1 km | 2 km · 49 m · 2.5 % · max 3.6 % | — | 305 m |
| Unnamed climb | 7.7 km | 1.7 km · 73 m · 4.3 % · max 12.7 % | — | 315 m |
| Unnamed climb | 12.7 km | 1.7 km · 91 m · 5.3 % · max 11.7 % | — | 262 m |
| Unnamed climb | 18.7 km | 2.3 km · 61 m · 2.7 % · max 4.2 % | — | 260 m |
| Ishwais climb (243 m) | 49.1 km | 4.4 km · 238 m · 5.4 % · max 12.1 % | 4.5 km · 240 m · 5.3 % | 247 m |
| Unnamed climb | 79.9 km | 5.4 km · 120 m · 2.2 % · max 3 % | — | 164 m |
| Unnamed climb | 86 km | 2.3 km · 96 m · 4.2 % · max 8 % | — | 268 m |
| Unnamed climb | 93 km | 1.5 km · 84 m · 5.7 % · max 12.7 % | — | 268 m |
| Unnamed climb | 95.6 km | 1.7 km · 65 m · 3.8 % · max 6.6 % | — | 227 m |
| Unnamed climb | 97.5 km | 1.9 km · 81 m · 4.2 % · max 10.1 % | — | 310 m |
| Unnamed climb | 101.5 km | 2.1 km · 65 m · 3.2 % · max 5.1 % | — | 308 m |
Ishwais climb (243 m) · full ascent, starts at 49.1 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 80% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 51.8 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 37% motorway · 27% major road · 17% main road · 13% minor road · 6% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 88.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 51.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (39 km), Yabsa Bypass Road (13 km), Corniche Road (5 km), Kalba Beach Road (5 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 24% climbing · 22% descending · 54% flat
- Steep sections
- 5.7 km over 5% · 3 km over 8% · 1.7 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 17.9% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 6.3 km from 54.1 km, dropping 159 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 44 km, from km 66 to 109. Along the route: 61 cafés and restaurants, 12 shops, 12 petrol stations, 2 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 21.8 kmHabib Beirut · restaurant · 70 m off route
- 27.5 kmStarbucks · café · 40 m off route
- 27.5 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 27.5 kmADNOC · petrol station · 130 m off route
- 30.8 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 200 m off route
- 36.8 kmAl Zaytoon · pharmacy · 100 m off route
- 38.2 kmTamm Cafe · café · 100 m off route
- 38.2 kmADNOC · petrol station · 100 m off route
- 40.8 kmAkbar Supermarket · convenience store · 290 m off route
- 41.5 kmToilets · 120 m off route
- 42.5 kmBike rental · 30 m off route
- 44.1 kmSingle Origin · café · 70 m off route
- 44.9 kmAl Sharq Pharmacy · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 46.9 kmENOC · petrol station · 90 m off route
- 47.1 kmZOOM · convenience store · 80 m off route
- 60.2 kmADNOC · petrol station · 150 m off route
- 65.7 kmADNOC · petrol station · 30 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 48.3 km — Fujairah Station (station), 90 m off route
Worth a stop
- 21.8 km — Hanging Garden Kalba (attraction)
- 30.4 km — Visit Center of Khor Kalba Mangrove Reserve (attraction)
- 38 km — Kalba Fort (castle)
- 41.5 km — Bull fighting (Bullring) (attraction)
Know before you go
- 88.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 51.8 km on roads with 80 km/h or higher speed limits
- Longest stretch of 43.5 km with no café, shop or water from 65.7 to 109.2 km
