Road · United Arab Emirates
Kalba to Dubai via Hatta
A rolling 214 km road cycling route from Kalba, Sharjah to Dubai via Hatta through Al Wa'ab, Rāfāq and Al Qilē'ī, with 1,387 m of climbing over Showka climb (484 m) and the Kalba climb. Most of it (178.4 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 113.1 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 66 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 40–106).
At a glance
- Best for
- Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 214.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,387 m
- Riding time
- 3–4½ hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 66 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Kalba → Dubai via Hatta
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,387 m
- 214 km
Route description
- Kalba
- Al Wa'ab
- Rāfāq
- Showka climb (484 m)
- Al Qilē'ī
- Kalba climb
- Al Warqa'a 3
- Ras Al Khor Industrial 1
- Al Safa 2
- Dubai via Hatta
Starting in Kalba, the route heads northwest passing Al Wa'ab and Sikhēbar within the first 3 km, then crosses smaller settlements like Al Qor and Sufayri. The terrain begins to rise with a 4.4 km climb of 102 m average 2.3% gradient at 13.6 km. Further climbs include a 2.1 km rise of 51 m at 29.8 km and a steeper 3.8 km ascent gaining 277 m at 64.6 km, with a maximum gradient of 13.1% and a summit elevation of 465 m. The highest point near the route is 624 m at 68.9 km. The route continues past multiple small places including Munay and Milehah before descending gradually with the longest descent being 8.7 km from 104.5 km, dropping 183 m.
Why ride this route?
- The longest of the 17 rides from Kalba.
- Climbs Showka climb (484 m) (3.6 km at 7.7 %) and the Kalba climb (5.2 km at 2.9 %).
- Tops out at 624 m, 68.9 km in.
- An 8.7 km descent dropping 183 m.
Highlights
- Highest point 624 m at 68.9 km
- 3.8 km climb at 7.3% average, max 13.1%
- Passes near Jabal Naselah peak (178 m)
- Longest descent 8.7 km starting at 104.5 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 13.6 km | 4.4 km · 102 m · 2.3 % · max 3.8 % | — | 418 m |
| Unnamed climb | 29.8 km | 2.1 km · 51 m · 2.5 % · max 4.6 % | — | 355 m |
| Showka climb (484 m) | 64.6 km | 3.8 km · 277 m · 7.3 % · max 13.1 % | 3.6 km · 277 m · 7.7 % | 465 m |
| Unnamed climb | 77.4 km | 1.7 km · 50 m · 2.9 % · max 5.2 % | — | 295 m |
| Kalba climb | 90.6 km | 5.9 km · 169 m · 2.9 % · max 9 % | 5.2 km · 151 m · 2.9 % | 481 m |
Showka climb (484 m) · full ascent, starts at 64.6 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Kalba climb · full ascent, starts at 90.6 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 83% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 113.1 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 55% motorway · 23% main road · 7% minor road · 7% major road · 8% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 178.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 113.1 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Maleha Road (38 km), Sharjah - Kalba Road (34 km), Al Awir Road (10 km), Emirates Road (8 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 96% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 11% climbing · 13% descending · 76% flat
- Steep sections
- 3.9 km over 5% · 2.7 km over 8% · 1.2 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 18.4% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 8.7 km from 104.5 km, dropping 183 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 66 km, from km 40 to 106. Along the route: 203 cafés and restaurants, 58 shops, 3 water points, 24 petrol stations, 8 public toilets and 12 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 10.6 kmDrinking water · 170 m off route
- 29.5 kmToilets · 240 m off route
- 40.3 kmnaseem al howailat · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 100.2 kmToilets · 210 m off route
- 115.7 kmEmarat · petrol station · 130 m off route
- 120.2 kmAl Ikhtayar · supermarket · 160 m off route
- 139.4 kmADNOC · petrol station · 80 m off route
- 155 kmToilets · 190 m off route
- 160.7 kmFresh Plus · supermarket · 120 m off route
- 173.4 kmpt 12904 · drinking water · 60 m off route
- 179.3 kmEat & Drink Restaurant · restaurant · 50 m off route
- 187.7 kmCaffeine & Culture Cafe · café · 180 m off route
- 193.6 kmMedcare Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital · hospital · 50 m off route
- 196.7 kmDrinking water · 190 m off route
- 199.6 kmEmarat · petrol station · 70 m off route
- 202.1 kmGargash Hospital · clinic · 80 m off route
- 209.5 kmCosta Coffee · café · 90 m off route
- 209.8 kmENOC Link - The Palm Jumeirah · petrol station · 50 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 175.8 km — Dragon Mart (station), 290 m off route
- 193.3 km — Marine Transport Station (ferry), 570 m off route
- 200.9 km — Equiti (station), 180 m off route
- 210.1 km — Palm Jumeirah Mall (station), 80 m off route
Worth a stop
- 54.9 km — Jabal Naselah (peak, 178 m)
- 181.7 km — Sharafu shop (attraction)
- 203.1 km — Golden Horses (monument)
- 206.6 km — The Palace Of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (castle)
- 209.8 km — The View at The Palm (viewpoint)
Stay after this ride
- Dukes Hotel The Palm · hotel · 250 m from the finish
- Cheval Maison - The Palm · hotel · 130 m from the finish
- Fairmont The Palm · hotel · 130 m from the finish
- The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm · hotel · 290 m from the finish
- Andaz Dubai The Palm Apartments · hotel · 440 m from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Palm Jumeirah Mall (470 m)
- Bikes and repair
- Fairmont Palm Hotel Station (140 m)
- Food and coffee
- Café Bateel (260 m), Costa Coffee (360 m), L’eto (240 m)
- Shops
- Waitrose (260 m)
Know before you go
- 178.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 113.1 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- 66.1 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 40.3 km to 106.4 km
- 2% of route on gravel or unpaved surface
