Road · United Arab Emirates
Khor Fakkan Loop via Madha and Nahwa
A hilly 84 km road cycling loop from Khor Fakkan, Sharjah through Ar Rufaysah, Madha and Sa‘d, with 1,257 m of climbing over the Madha climb and Jabal Half. Most of it (68.2 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 23.4 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 35 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 10–45).
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 84.1 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,257 m
- Riding time
- 3½–5 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- 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
- 1,257 m
- 84 km
Route description
- Khor Fakkan
- Ar Rufaysah
- Madha
- Madha climb
- Jabal Half
- Sa‘d
- Al Musalla
- Al Khaledya
- Al Hayawah
- Khor Fakkan
This 84 km loop ride starts and finishes in Khor Fakkan, passing through places such as Ar Rufaysah at 2.1 km, Al Qadsia at 5 km, Madha at 13 km, and Nahwa at 22.3 km. The route covers a mix of main roads, major roads, quiet streets, and minor roads, with 97% paved surfaces. Notable climbs include a 6.9 km ascent from 14.3 km gaining 197 m at 2.9% average gradient, a steeper 4.7 km climb from 23.3 km rising 228 m at 4.8%, and a longer 10.6 km climb starting at 65.4 km with an average of 4.9% and max 13.5%, reaching the highest point at 547 m near 76 km.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Madha climb (6.9 km at 2.9 %) and Jabal Half (8.7 km at 4.1 %).
- Tops out at 547 m, 76 km in.
- A 10.9 km descent dropping 380 m.
Highlights
- Climb ending at 547 m near 76 km
- Longest descent of 10.9 km dropping 380 m
- Passes through towns like Madha and Nahwa
- Views near Jabal Half (569 m) at 28.2 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madha climb | 14.3 km | 6.9 km · 197 m · 2.9 % · max 5.8 % | 6.9 km · 197 m · 2.9 % | 261 m |
| Jabal Half | 23.3 km | 4.7 km · 228 m · 4.8 % · max 9.5 % | 8.7 km · 354 m · 4.1 % | 419 m |
| Unnamed climb | 33.1 km | 1.9 km · 45 m · 2.4 % · max 3.7 % | — | 401 m |
| Unnamed climb | 51.8 km | 2 km · 57 m · 2.8 % · max 5 % | — | 71 m |
| Unnamed climb | 65.4 km | 10.6 km · 517 m · 4.9 % · max 13.5 % | — | 547 m |
Madha climb · full ascent, starts at 14.3 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Jabal Half · full ascent, starts at 23.3 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 81% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 23.4 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 43% main road · 40% major road · 8% quiet street · 6% minor road · 2% other roads and tracks · 1% unmapped
- Main roads
- 68.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 23.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 1 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Madha Road (28 km), Khorfakkan Road (15 km), E199 (8 km), Madha - Al Qitaylah Road (3 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved and 3% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 34% climbing · 33% descending · 33% flat
- Steep sections
- 7.7 km over 5% · 2.5 km over 8% · 0.6 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 16.2% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 10.9 km from 38.7 km, dropping 380 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 35 km, from km 10 to 45. Along the route: 20 cafés and restaurants, 4 shops, 1 water point, 2 petrol stations and 3 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 1.4 kmWishi · restaurant · 100 m off route
- 8.1 kmToilets · 120 m off route
- 9.6 kmAl Madha Petrol · petrol station · 70 m off route
- 44.8 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 48.1 kmCafé · 60 m off route
- 52.8 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 55.1 kmin minde cafe · café · 380 m off route
- 59.7 kmAl Safeer Centre · supermarket · 180 m off route
- 60 kmCafteria Al Shabab · café · 50 m off route
- 60.2 kmBin Moosa Medical Pharmacy · pharmacy · 90 m off route
- 61.6 kmADNOC · petrol station · 50 m off route
- 65.5 kmWadi Al Arayesh · restaurant · 390 m off route
- 69.6 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · on the route
Worth a stop
- 60.3 km — Khorfakkan Beach (picnic site)
- 69.5 km — Reservoir. Observation deck (viewpoint)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Shops
- Sharjah Coop (170 m)
Know before you go
- 35.2 km longest stretch without café, shop, or water from 9.6 to 44.8 km
- 68.2 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 23.4 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
