Cyclists.com

Munay Loop via Kalba Corniche and Yabsa

Kalba, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesRoad

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Friday 5th February 2021

111 km
Distance
1,340 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap
On the road: Munay Loop via Kalba Corniche and Yabsa

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,340 m
Distance
111 km
0100200300400m0 km255075111 km313 m · highest, at 9.4 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route overview

Suitable for strong riders comfortable with long distance and moderate climbing (990 m over 111 km).

111km loop from Kalba in the Hajar Mountains, UAE, with 990m climbing.

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.

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

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Al Saaf 28.8 km
  2. Al Ghail 28.8 km
  3. Al Maqt'a 29.9 km
  4. Al Quala'a 32.7 km
  5. Khawr Kalba 32.9 km
  6. Al Mafraq 33.4 km
  7. Al Nighala 33.6 km
  8. Al Bardi 34.2 km
  9. Al Aoud 34.2 km
  10. Kalba 34.7 km
  11. Al Qadesia 34.9 km
  12. Al Sidrah 35.2 km
  13. Al Bateen 35.2 km
  14. Hitteen 35.9 km
  15. Al Musalla 35.9 km
  16. Al Khuwair 35.9 km
  17. Dhyatt 36.3 km
  18. Al Mughaider 36.7 km
  19. Al Mahatta 37 km
  20. Al Bhaies 37.2 km
  21. A'quola 37.2 km
  22. Darweshia 37.5 km
  23. Al Husen 37.9 km
  24. Suhaila 38.2 km
  25. Sour Kalba 39.1 km
  26. Rughaylat 40.6 km
  27. Al Gurfaa 41.7 km
  28. Ghalala 42.9 km
  29. Safad 42.9 km
  30. Owaid 43.7 km
  31. Al Faseel 44.8 km
  32. Al Sharia 46.2 km
  33. Al Sharia 1 46.7 km
  34. Al Hilal 47.2 km
  35. Ishwais 48.6 km
  36. Sakamkam 49.5 km
  37. Yabsa 55.5 km
  38. Haleefath 67 km
  39. Tarif Kalba 73.5 km
  40. Ihfarah 76.7 km
  41. Al Uqdah 84.3 km
  42. Minazif 100.6 km
  43. Al Qilē'ī 101.5 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—3.1 km2 km49 m2.5 %3.6 %305 m
—7.7 km1.7 km73 m4.3 %12.7 %315 m
—12.7 km1.7 km91 m5.3 %11.7 %262 m
—18.7 km2.3 km61 m2.7 %4.2 %260 m
Ishwais climb49.1 km4.4 km238 m5.4 %12.1 %247 m
—79.9 km5.4 km120 m2.2 %3 %164 m
—86 km2.3 km96 m4.2 %8 %268 m
—93 km1.5 km84 m5.7 %12.7 %268 m
—95.6 km1.7 km65 m3.8 %6.6 %227 m
—97.5 km1.9 km81 m4.2 %10.1 %310 m
—101.5 km2.1 km65 m3.2 %5.1 %308 m

High point 315 m at 9.4 km; low point 1 m. Passes beneath Jabal Al Miqsha, Jabal Muthrad, Najd Al Baqar.

Ishwais climb · starts at 49.1 km

4.5 km at 5.3% · 240 m
50100150200m3.6%5.7%11%0 km12344.6 km243 msteepest 10.5%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
37% motorway · 27% major road · 17% main road · 13% minor road
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 throughout
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

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 44 km, from 66 km to 109 km.

Food, water and shops

  1. 21.8 kmHabib Beirut · restaurant · 70 m off route
  2. 27.5 kmStarbucks · café · 40 m off route
  3. 27.5 kmToilets · 30 m off route
  4. 27.5 kmADNOC · petrol station · 130 m off route
  5. 30.8 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 200 m off route
  6. 36.8 kmAl Zaytoon · pharmacy · 100 m off route
  7. 38.2 kmTamm Cafe · café · 100 m off route
  8. 38.2 kmADNOC · petrol station · 100 m off route
  9. 40.8 kmAkbar Supermarket · convenience store · 290 m off route
  10. 41.5 kmToilets · 120 m off route
  11. 42.5 kmBike rental · 30 m off route
  12. 44.1 kmSingle Origin · café · 70 m off route
  13. 44.9 kmAl Sharq Pharmacy · pharmacy · 40 m off route
  14. 46.9 kmENOC · petrol station · 90 m off route
  15. 47.1 kmZOOM · convenience store · 80 m off route
  16. 60.2 kmADNOC · petrol station · 150 m off route
  17. 65.7 kmADNOC · petrol station · 30 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 48.3 km — Fujairah Station (station), 90 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

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)

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Loop
Riding time
4–5½ hours riding
Season
February with temperatures around 22°C.
Best months
Dec to Feb — daily highs of 24–26 °C in those months

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

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

4 photographs from the road

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