Cyclists.com

Masafi Loop via Khor Fakkan and Fujairah

Masafi, Fujairah, United Arab EmiratesRoad

Route contributed by Marcus · Last ridden Saturday 7th December 2024

117 km
Distance
1,616 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap
On the road: Masafi Loop via Khor Fakkan and Fujairah

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,616 m
Distance
117 km
0200400600800m0 km255075100117 km660 m · highest, at 14.3 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route overview

Suitable for riders comfortable with moderate distance and some climbing.

116.8 km loop in the Hajar Mountains, UAE, from Masafi via Khor Fakkan and Fujairah with 279 m climbing.

This 116.8 km loop starts and finishes in Masafi, riding through numerous towns including Shis at 11.6 km and Khor Fakkan at 26.5 km. The route features a total elevation gain of 279 m, with climbs spread out mostly in the first half including a 5 km climb beginning at 3.6 km that gains 225 m at 4.5% average gradient and a shorter but steeper climb of 0.8 km from 12.7 km at 5.3%. The road surface is 98% paved with no significant gravel sections. The route mainly follows major and main roads (63% and 29% respectively), with over 105 km on main roads but with no dedicated cycle lanes. There is a longest descent of 12.5 km starting near 58.9 km. The route passes beneath several peaks such as Jabal Daftah near km 10.5 and Jabal Salhal near km 109.2. Facilities include a supermarket in Masafi at the start, petrol stations at km 0, 10.7, and 32.3, and cafés or restaurants at km 11.1, 24.2, and 67.7. There is a 32.4 km stretch without café, shop or water from km 32.3 to 64.7, with drinking water available at km 64.7 and km 111.3. Bailout is possible near Fujairah Station at km 82.1.

Highlights

  • Climb starting at 3.6 km with 225 m gain
  • Passes beneath Jabal Daftah (878 m) at 10.5 km
  • Longest descent 12.5 km from 58.9 km
  • Route passes through Khor Fakkan at 26.5 km

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Shis 11.6 km
  2. Ar Rufaysah 24.7 km
  3. Al Hutain 26.5 km
  4. Al Hayawah 26.5 km
  5. Khor Fakkan 26.5 km
  6. Al Yarmouk 26.8 km
  7. Al Burdi 26.8 km
  8. Al Musalla 27.6 km
  9. Al Qadsia 27.6 km
  10. Madha 35.5 km
  11. Sa‘d 41.2 km
  12. Al Nahwa Old Hamlet 42.8 km
  13. Hajar Bani Hamid 53 km
  14. Nahwa 61.4 km
  15. Mirbah 69.6 km
  16. Sha'biyyāt Qirat 69.8 km
  17. Qurayyah 71.2 km
  18. Al Sharia 1 81.8 km
  19. Al Hilal 82 km
  20. Ishwais 82.3 km
  21. Sakamkam 83.2 km
  22. Yabsa 89.2 km
  23. Al Farfar 94.4 km
  24. Sa'if 99.9 km
  25. Al Bithnah 100.1 km
  26. Murrah 101.4 km
  27. Ghura 104.4 km
  28. Bulaidha 105.1 km
  29. Al Rimmani 105.7 km
  30. Daftah 110.9 km
  31. Ghadf 113.1 km
  32. Al Ghamarah 114.1 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
Daftah climb3.6 km5 km225 m4.5 %8.4 %587 m
—12.7 km0.8 km44 m5.3 %8 %573 m
Jabal Half36.7 km8.8 km355 m4 %9.9 %418 m
—52.7 km1.9 km45 m2.4 %4.1 %401 m
Ishwais climb82.5 km4.4 km236 m5.3 %12.1 %247 m
—103.8 km1.7 km40 m2.4 %2.7 %268 m
—109.4 km5.5 km131 m2.4 %3.4 %450 m

High point 650 m at 13.9 km; low point 2 m. Passes beneath Jabal Daftah, Jabal al Qitayliyah, ‘Iqāb Shawābiq.

Daftah climb · starts at 3.6 km

7.4 km at 4% · 298 m
350400450500550600m4.3%3.4%4.7%7.4%7.5%0 km1234567.3 km615 msteepest 7.5%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Jabal Half · starts at 36.7 km

8.7 km at 4.1% · 355 m
100150200250300350400m3.5%6.8%7.4%5.3%2.9%3.0%0 km123456788.8 km419 msteepest 7.4%

Ishwais climb · starts at 82.5 km

4.5 km at 5.3% · 240 m
50100150200m3.6%5.7%11%0 km12344.6 km243 msteepest 10.5%

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
63% major road · 29% main road · 4% minor road · 2% quiet street · 1% unmapped
Main roads
105.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
64.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
Madha Road (28 km), Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Road (24 km), Khorfakkan Road (16 km), Yabsa Bypass Road (10 km)
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
31% climbing · 31% descending · 39% flat
Steep sections
8.4 km over 5% · 2.7 km over 8% · 1 km over 10%
Longest descent
12.5 km from 58.9 km, dropping 401 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: 32 km, from 32 km to 65 km.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0 kmEmarat · petrol station · 270 m off route
  2. 0 kmMasafi Hospital · hospital · 140 m off route
  3. 0.6 kmAl Aswaq · supermarket · 70 m off route
  4. 10.7 kmEmarat · petrol station · 40 m off route
  5. 11.1 kmAlsad Ice Cream - Branch 2 · ice cream · 90 m off route
  6. 11.1 kmMohamed Al Yoha Supermarket · supermarket · 110 m off route
  7. 11.1 kmToilets · 110 m off route
  8. 23.1 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 70 m off route
  9. 24.2 kmWishi · restaurant · 150 m off route
  10. 27 kmKhorfakkan Hospital · hospital · 480 m off route
  11. 30.6 kmToilets · 140 m off route
  12. 32.3 kmAl Madha Petrol · petrol station · 60 m off route
  13. 64.7 kmDrinking water · 40 m off route
  14. 67.7 kmCafé · 100 m off route
  15. 71.3 kmEmarat · petrol station · 130 m off route
  16. 80.5 kmENOC · petrol station · 60 m off route
  17. 105.8 kmAl Safa Supermarket · supermarket · 80 m off route
  18. 111.3 kmDrinking water · 110 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 82.1 km — Fujairah Station (station), 120 m off route

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

Worth a stop

  • 23.4 km — Reservoir. Observation deck (viewpoint)

At the start and finish

  • Al Aswaq · supermarket · 650 m

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Loop
Riding time
4½–6 hours riding
Season
Dec, Jan
Best months
Nov to Mar — daily highs of 22–28 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • 32.4 km longest stretch without café, shop or water (32.3-64.7 km)
  • 105.7 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • 64.6 km on fast roads (80 km/h+)

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

11 photographs from the road

More rides from Masafi