Road · United Arab Emirates
Masafi Loop via Khor Fakkan and Fujairah
A hilly 117 km road cycling loop from Masafi, Fujairah through Shis, Al Burdi and Hajar Bani Hamid, with 1,616 m of climbing over Daftah climb (615 m) and Jabal Half. Most of it (105.7 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 64.6 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 32 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 32–65).
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 116.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,616 m
- Riding time
- 4½–6 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 32 km
- Best months
- Nov to Mar
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Masafi
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,616 m
- 117 km
Route description
- Masafi
- Daftah climb (615 m)
- Shis
- Al Burdi
- Jabal Half
- Hajar Bani Hamid
- Ishwais
- Ishwais climb (243 m)
- Murrah
- Masafi
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.
Why ride this route?
- The most climbing per kilometre of the 4 rides from Masafi: 14 m per km.
- Climbs Daftah climb (615 m) (7.4 km at 4 %), Jabal Half (8.7 km at 4.1 %) and Ishwais climb (243 m) (4.5 km at 5.3 %).
- Tops out at 650 m, 13.9 km in.
- A 12.5 km descent dropping 401 m.
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
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daftah climb (615 m) | 3.6 km | 5 km · 225 m · 4.5 % · max 8.4 % | 7.4 km · 298 m · 4 % | 587 m |
| Unnamed climb | 12.7 km | 0.8 km · 44 m · 5.3 % · max 8 % | — | 573 m |
| Jabal Half | 36.7 km | 8.8 km · 355 m · 4 % · max 9.9 % | 8.7 km · 354 m · 4.1 % | 418 m |
| Unnamed climb | 52.7 km | 1.9 km · 45 m · 2.4 % · max 4.1 % | — | 401 m |
| Ishwais climb (243 m) | 82.5 km | 4.4 km · 236 m · 5.3 % · max 12.1 % | 4.5 km · 240 m · 5.3 % | 247 m |
| Unnamed climb | 103.8 km | 1.7 km · 40 m · 2.4 % · max 2.7 % | — | 268 m |
| Unnamed climb | 109.4 km | 5.5 km · 131 m · 2.4 % · max 3.4 % | — | 450 m |
Daftah climb (615 m) · full ascent, starts at 3.6 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Jabal Half · full ascent, starts at 36.7 km
Ishwais climb (243 m) · full ascent, starts at 82.5 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 90% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 64.6 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 · 29% main road · 4% minor road · 2% quiet street · 1% other roads and tracks · 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: 98% of the route is mapped as paved and 2% has no surface data.
- 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
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 32 km, from km 32 to 65. Along the route: 10 cafés and restaurants, 15 shops, 2 water points, 5 petrol stations and 4 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmEmarat · petrol station · 270 m off route
- 0 kmMasafi Hospital · hospital · 140 m off route
- 0.6 kmAl Aswaq · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 10.7 kmEmarat · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 11.1 kmAlsad Ice Cream - Branch 2 · ice cream · 90 m off route
- 11.1 kmMohamed Al Yoha Supermarket · supermarket · 110 m off route
- 11.1 kmToilets · 110 m off route
- 23.1 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 24.2 kmWishi · restaurant · 150 m off route
- 27 kmKhorfakkan Hospital · hospital · 480 m off route
- 30.6 kmToilets · 140 m off route
- 32.3 kmAl Madha Petrol · petrol station · 60 m off route
- 64.7 kmDrinking water · 40 m off route
- 67.7 kmCafé · 100 m off route
- 71.3 kmEmarat · petrol station · 130 m off route
- 80.5 kmENOC · petrol station · 60 m off route
- 105.8 kmAl Safa Supermarket · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 111.3 kmDrinking water · 110 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 82.1 km — Fujairah Station (station), 120 m off route
Worth a stop
- 23.4 km — Reservoir. Observation deck (viewpoint)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Shops
- Al Aswaq (650 m)
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+)
