Road · United Arab Emirates
Khor Fakkan Hills 75
A mountainous 75 km road cycling route from Al Ghamarah, Sharjah through Daftah, Ar Rufaysah and Al Nahwa Old Hamlet, with 1,330 m of climbing over Daftah climb (615 m) and Jabal Half. Most of it (68.8 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 34.7 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 24 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 31–55).
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 75.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,330 m
- Riding time
- 2½–3½ hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 24 km
- Best months
- Nov to Mar
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Al Ghamarah
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,330 m
- 75 km
Route description
- Al Ghamarah
- Daftah climb (615 m)
- Daftah
- Ar Rufaysah
- Jabal Half
- Al Nahwa Old Hamlet
- Al Musalla
- Al Yarmouk
- Al Burdi
The ride starts at Al Ghamarah and passes Ghadf before climbing from 1.7 km for 5.4 km gaining 256 m at an average 4.7%, reaching 617 m. It continues through Daftah, Shis, and Ar Rufaysah with a short steep climb of 1.3 km at 6.9% average and max 19.1% around 10.8 km. Next the route passes Madha with a small climb of 2 km reaching 111 m and then a longer climb from 37.6 km for 6.3 km gaining 300 m at 4.8% average to 419 m elevation. The profile features 34% climbing, 36% descending, and 30% flat with the high point at 636 m around 7.2 km and the low at 10 m near 61.1 km.
Why ride this route?
- The shortest of the 6 rides from Khor Fakkan, yet it climbs 1,330 m.
- Climbs Daftah climb (615 m) (7.4 km at 4 %) and Jabal Half (8.7 km at 4.1 %).
- Tops out at 636 m, 7.2 km in.
- A 13.1 km descent dropping 599 m.
Highlights
- Climb to 617 m after 7 km
- Pass beneath 878 m Jabal Daftah
- Longest descent of 13 km
- Final climb of 8.2 km to 455 m
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daftah climb (615 m) | 1.7 km | 5.4 km · 256 m · 4.7 % · max 12.2 % | 7.4 km · 298 m · 4 % | 617 m |
| Unnamed climb | 10.8 km | 1.3 km · 91 m · 6.9 % · steepest 500 m 7.1 % | — | 628 m |
| Unnamed climb | 35.3 km | 2 km · 46 m · 2.4 % · max 3.6 % | — | 111 m |
| Jabal Half | 37.6 km | 6.3 km · 300 m · 4.8 % · max 9.8 % | 8.7 km · 354 m · 4.1 % | 419 m |
| Unnamed climb | 66.5 km | 8.2 km · 423 m · 5.2 % · max 9.7 % | — | 455 m |
Daftah climb (615 m) · full ascent, starts at 1.7 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Jabal Half · full ascent, starts at 37.6 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 91% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 34.7 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 56% major road · 36% main road · 3% quiet street · 1% minor road · 1% other roads and tracks · 3% unmapped
- Main roads
- 68.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 34.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Madha Road (22 km), Khorfakkan Road (20 km), E199 (7 km), Madha - Al Qitaylah Road (3 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 96% of the route is mapped as paved and 4% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 34% climbing · 36% descending · 30% flat
- Steep sections
- 10.7 km over 5% · 2.4 km over 8% · 0.4 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 23.9% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 13.1 km from 12.4 km, dropping 599 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 24 km, from km 31 to 55. Along the route: 10 cafés and restaurants, 13 shops, 2 water points, 2 petrol stations and 4 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 1.5 kmDrinking water · 180 m off route
- 8.9 kmEmarat · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 9.2 kmAlsad Ice Cream - Branch 2 · ice cream · on the route
- 9.2 kmMohamed Al Yoha Supermarket · supermarket · 30 m off route
- 9.3 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 22.3 kmWishi · restaurant · 100 m off route
- 28.9 kmToilets · 100 m off route
- 30.6 kmAl Madha Petrol · petrol station · 70 m off route
- 54.8 kmDrinking water · 190 m off route
- 58 kmCafé · 40 m off route
- 62.8 kmToilets · 170 m off route
- 66.7 kmKhorfakkan Hospital · hospital · 450 m off route
- 70.5 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 60 m off route
Worth a stop
- 70.5 km — Reservoir. Observation deck (viewpoint)
Know before you go
- 24 km without café, shop or water from km 30.6 to 54.8
- 68.8 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 35 km on roads with 80 km/h or higher limits
