Road · United Arab Emirates
Liwa Loop via Mezaira and Tal Mur'ib Road
A hilly 107 km road cycling loop from Liwa, Abu Dhabi through Mzeerʻah and Mezaira, with 1,080 m of climbing. There is a 53 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 52–105).
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 107 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,080 m
- Riding time
- 4–5½ hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 53 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Liwa
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,080 m
- 107 km
Route description
- Liwa
- Mzeerʻah
- Mezaira
- Liwa
The Liwa desert loop is a 107 km cycling route starting and finishing in Liwa, United Arab Emirates. The ride includes a series of moderate climbs, beginning with a 1.9 km ascent at 2.7% average gradient near the start and several others ranging between 2.4% and 3.8% average gradients. The highest point is at 161 m elevation near km 31.1. The route mainly follows minor roads (85%) with 13.9 km on main roads, all fully paved. The longest named road ridden is Tal Mur'ib Road for 37 km.
The profile has 23% climbing and 23% descending with mostly flat sections covering 54% of the distance. The steepest 500 m segment has a 6.5% gradient. The longest descent lasts 1.8 km with a 43 m drop. Services are sparse beyond km 52, with a 53.2 km stretch without any café, shop or water. A convenience store, Mouqab Grocery, is available just off the route at 52 km. There are no bike shops, toilet, or petrol stations along the way.
Highlights
- Loop ride around Liwa in Abu Dhabi
- Climb to 161 m elevation at km 31
- Longest stretch without services is 53 km
- Mostly minor roads with full pavement
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0.8 km | 1.9 km · 50 m · 2.7 % · max 6.5 % | 138 m |
| Unnamed climb | 4.5 km | 1.7 km · 51 m · 3.1 % · max 5 % | 141 m |
| Unnamed climb | 10.2 km | 1.5 km · 43 m · 2.8 % · max 4.7 % | 136 m |
| Unnamed climb | 13.1 km | 1.6 km · 55 m · 3.4 % · max 7.6 % | 146 m |
| Unnamed climb | 19.3 km | 1.6 km · 46 m · 2.9 % · max 6 % | 143 m |
| Unnamed climb | 29.4 km | 1.7 km · 49 m · 3 % · max 6.6 % | 161 m |
| Unnamed climb | 80.5 km | 1.9 km · 46 m · 2.4 % · max 4.1 % | 145 m |
| Unnamed climb | 87.6 km | 1.2 km · 46 m · 3.8 % · max 7.4 % | 147 m |
| Unnamed climb | 90.3 km | 1.6 km · 42 m · 2.7 % · max 5.7 % | 133 m |
| Unnamed climb | 95.8 km | 1.5 km · 40 m · 2.8 % · max 4.7 % | 141 m |
| Unnamed climb | 99.4 km | 1.7 km · 49 m · 3 % · max 6.7 % | 139 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 13.9 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 85% minor road · 13% main road · 2% quiet street
- Main roads
- 13.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 13.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Tal Mur'ib Road (37 km), Al Mariyah Ash Sharqiyah Street (17 km), Sheikh Theyab Bin Eissa AL Falahi Road (14 km), Mahdar Litayr Street (10 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 100% of the route is mapped as paved.
- Gradient
- 23% climbing · 23% descending · 54% flat
- Steep sections
- 3.3 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 6.5% at 14.3 km
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 53 km, from km 52 to 105. Along the route: 1 shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 52 kmMouqab Grocery · convenience store · 60 m off route
Know before you go
- 53 km longest stretch without café, shop, or water after km 52
- 13.9 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 13.5 km on roads with speeds of 80 km/h plus