Road · United Arab Emirates
Munay Loop via Wahala Fort and Hanging Garden
A hilly 90 km road cycling loop from Kalba, Sharjah through Munay, Wahala and Al ‘Ayn al Ghumūr, with 1,320 m of climbing. Most of it (87.6 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 45.8 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 56 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 90.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,320 m
- Riding time
- 3½–5 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 56 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Kalba
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,320 m
- 90 km
Route description
- Kalba
- Munay
- Wahala
- Al ‘Ayn al Ghumūr
- Minazif
- Al Qilē'ī
- Kalba
The route starts in Kalba and heads to Munay at 18.6 km, then continues to Wahala at 43.9 km. After Wahala, it passes Al ‘Ayn al Ghumūr at 50.6 km, followed by Minazif at 77 km and Al Qilē'ī at 78.2 km before returning to Kalba. The ride features multiple climbs including early ascents reaching up to 450 m, with an overall elevation gain of 1002 m. The highest point of the route is at 450 m near 8.8 km, while the lowest point is 2 m at 56.5 km.
Roads are mainly motorways (53%) and main roads (41%), totaling 87.6 km without cycle lanes, with nearly half of the route on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. Almost all surfaces (99%) are paved, except for a short 1% of gravel or unpaved track near the route. The ride follows Sharjah - Kalba Road for nearly 50 km. There is a long stretch of 55.9 km from the start before any café, shop or water, but shops, toilets, food, and petrol stations are found around the 55-64 km mark off route by under 220 m. Wahla Fort and a wildlife observation viewpoint are near the route around 44-56 km, and the Hanging Garden Kalba attraction lies near 63.7 km.
Climbing includes several ascents exceeding 5% gradient, with the longest climb lasting 4.1 km averaging 6.3%, and some short sections maxing out above 13%. The largest continuous descent is 3.7 km dropping 84 m. Peaks near the road are Jabal Al Miqsha at 400 m near 23.7 km and Jabal Al Khasfah at 464 m near 63.3 km.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 450 m, 8.8 km in.
Highlights
- Wahla Fort near 44 km
- Wildlife observation viewpoint near 55.7 km
- Hanging Garden Kalba near 63.7 km
- Peaks Jabal Al Miqsha and Jabal Al Khasfah nearby
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0.9 km | 1.5 km · 62 m · 4.1 % · max 8.2 % | 380 m |
| Unnamed climb | 3 km | 1.8 km · 82 m · 4.5 % · max 7.2 % | 449 m |
| Unnamed climb | 7.3 km | 1.5 km · 47 m · 3.2 % · max 5.1 % | 450 m |
| Unnamed climb | 20.5 km | 1.9 km · 49 m · 2.6 % · max 4.1 % | 305 m |
| Unnamed climb | 25.4 km | 1.4 km · 82 m · 5.8 % · max 13.8 % | 315 m |
| Unnamed climb | 30.1 km | 1.8 km · 95 m · 5.2 % · max 12.1 % | 267 m |
| Unnamed climb | 51.2 km | 1.2 km · 45 m · 3.7 % · max 7.6 % | 94 m |
| Unnamed climb | 59.9 km | 4.1 km · 260 m · 6.3 % · max 11.1 % | 279 m |
| Unnamed climb | 69.3 km | 1.6 km · 77 m · 4.8 % · max 13.7 % | 267 m |
| Unnamed climb | 72.1 km | 1.9 km · 65 m · 3.5 % · max 6.7 % | 228 m |
| Unnamed climb | 74.1 km | 1.8 km · 89 m · 4.9 % · max 10.4 % | 310 m |
| Unnamed climb | 78.1 km | 2 km · 67 m · 3.3 % · max 5.2 % | 308 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 97% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 45.8 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 53% motorway · 41% main road · 4% major road · 1% track · 1% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 87.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 45.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (50 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 26% climbing · 30% descending · 45% flat
- Steep sections
- 7.2 km over 5% · 4 km over 8% · 1.9 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 21.4% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 3.7 km from 64.8 km, dropping 84 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 56 km, from the start. Along the route: 6 cafés and restaurants, 1 shop, 1 petrol station and 2 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 55.9 kmKiosk · 100 m off route
- 57.7 kmStarbucks · café · on the route
- 57.7 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 57.7 kmADNOC · petrol station · 170 m off route
- 63.7 kmHabib Beirut · restaurant · 200 m off route
Worth a stop
- 44 km — Wahla Fort (castle)
- 55.7 km — Wildlife observation (viewpoint)
- 63.7 km — Hanging Garden Kalba (attraction)
Know before you go
- 55.9 km longest stretch without café, shop or water
- 87.6 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 45.8 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
- 1% gravel or unpaved track
