Road · United Arab Emirates
Khor Fakkan – Fujairah Coast
A hilly 109 km road cycling loop from Khor Fakkan, Sharjah through Ar Rufaysah, Al Qadsia and Qurayyah, with 1,373 m of climbing over Ishwais climb (243 m) and Daftah climb (615 m). Most of it (81.9 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 58 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 35 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 57–93).
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 109.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,373 m
- Riding time
- 4–6 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 35 km
- Best months
- Nov to Mar
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Khor Fakkan
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,373 m
- 109 km
Route description
- Khor Fakkan
- Ar Rufaysah
- Al Qadsia
- Madha climb
- Qurayyah
- Ishwais climb (243 m)
- Ishwais climb (248 m)
- Al Bithnah
- Daftah climb (615 m)
- Khor Fakkan
Starting in Khor Fakkan at 18.7 km, the route includes a climb beginning at 1.9 km lasting 1.4 km with an average gradient of 3.5%, reaching 607 m. It descends before a second climb starts at 22.2 km with 53 m gained over 1.8 km. From 31.1 km there's a longer ascent over 7.1 km with a 195 m gain. Another climb begins at 44.1 km, then a more significant climb starts at 68.8 km covering 4.6 km with a 241 m gain and max gradient 13.1%. Near the end, from 90.4 km and 95.9 km there are two climbs totaling nearly 9 km and almost 334 m gained, including max gradients up to 10.4%.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Madha climb (6.9 km at 2.9 %), Ishwais climb (243 m) (4.5 km at 5.3 %) and Ishwais climb (248 m) (4.4 km at 5.4 %).
- Tops out at 644 m, 3.5 km in.
- A 9.8 km descent dropping 456 m.
Highlights
- Climb to 607 m at 3.5% gradient
- Long 7.1 km climb gaining 195 m
- Climb with 13.1% max gradient over 4.6 km
- Mountains near route: Jabal Daftah, 878 m
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 1.9 km | 1.4 km · 50 m · 3.5 % · max 11.1 % | — | 607 m |
| Unnamed climb | 22.2 km | 1.8 km · 53 m · 2.9 % · max 5.4 % | — | 68 m |
| Madha climb | 31.1 km | 7.1 km · 195 m · 2.8 % · max 5.8 % | 6.9 km · 197 m · 2.9 % | 258 m |
| Unnamed climb | 44.1 km | 2.7 km · 56 m · 2.1 % · max 3.3 % | — | 161 m |
| Ishwais climb (243 m) | 68.8 km | 4.6 km · 241 m · 5.3 % · max 13.1 % | 4.5 km · 240 m · 5.3 % | 248 m |
| Ishwais climb (248 m) | 69.1 km | — | 4.4 km · 238 m · 5.4 % | 248 m |
| Unnamed climb | 90.4 km | 1.8 km · 41 m · 2.3 % · max 2.7 % | — | 269 m |
| Daftah climb (615 m) | 95.9 km | 7.3 km · 293 m · 4 % · max 10.4 % | 7.4 km · 298 m · 4 % | 610 m |
Madha climb · full ascent, starts at 31.1 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Ishwais climb (243 m) · full ascent, starts at 68.8 km
Ishwais climb (248 m) · full ascent, starts at 69.1 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 75% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 58 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 63% major road · 18% minor road · 14% main road · 5% quiet street
- Main roads
- 81.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 58 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Road (18 km), Khorfakkan Road (15 km), Yabsa Bypass Road (9 km), Madha Road (9 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved.
- Gradient
- 28% climbing · 28% descending · 44% flat
- Steep sections
- 5.7 km over 5% · 1.9 km over 8% · 0.8 km over 10%
- Longest descent
- 9.8 km from 8.3 km, dropping 456 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 35 km, from km 57 to 93. Along the route: 18 cafés and restaurants, 18 shops, 3 water points, 3 petrol stations and 6 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 12.6 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 50 m off route
- 13.4 kmWishi · restaurant · 80 m off route
- 17.2 kmAl Enwan medical center · hospital · on the route
- 18.3 kmJoint training est · supermarket · 130 m off route
- 18.9 kmBaskinRobbins · ice cream · 90 m off route
- 24.9 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 26.7 kmAl Madha Petrol · petrol station · 50 m off route
- 43.6 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 53.9 kmCafé · 70 m off route
- 57.4 kmEmarat · petrol station · 80 m off route
- 92.6 kmAl Safa Supermarket · supermarket · on the route
- 98 kmDrinking water · 80 m off route
- 105.2 kmEmarat · petrol station · 80 m off route
- 105.4 kmMohamed Al Yoha Supermarket · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 106.7 kmGerard · café · 70 m off route
- 106.7 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 106.7 kmToilets · 40 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 69.3 km — Fujairah Station (station), 620 m off route
Worth a stop
- 12.8 km — Reservoir. Observation deck (viewpoint)
- 42.2 km — Wadi Madha Picnic Point (picnic site)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Food and coffee
- Gerard (160 m), Alsad Ice Cream - Branch 2 (750 m)
- Shops
- Mohamed Al Yoha Supermarket (770 m), Hadeeqt Shees Vegetable & Fruits Trading (600 m), Al Fanoos Al Akhdhar Vegetable & Fruits (610 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 35.2 km from 57.4 to 92.6 km
- 81.9 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 58 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
