Road · United Arab Emirates
Nazwa to Al Aqah
A rolling 166 km road cycling route from Nazwa, Sharjah to Al Aqah through Al Dafain, Al Saaf and Al Aoud, with 999 m of climbing. Most of it (149.8 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 74.8 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 56 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 40–96).
At a glance
- Best for
- Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 165.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 999 m
- Riding time
- 5½–7½ hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 56 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Nazwa → Al Aqah
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 999 m
- 166 km
Route description
- Nazwa
- Al Dafain
- Al Saaf
- Al Aoud
- Dhyatt
- Sour Kalba
- Al Sharia 1
- Al Qadsia
- Al Mudaifi
- Al Aqah
Starting from Nazwa, the route heads through several places including Al Dafain, Musseili, and Munay, passing beneath peaks like Qarn Nazwa at the start and Jabal Al Hinnah around 58 km. The first half features most of the 841 m elevation gain, including climbs from 54.8 km to 58.4 km gaining 99 m at 3.2% average gradient and from 59.9 km to 63.5 km with 104 m at 2.9%. The highest point is at 488 m near 63.7 km, followed by the longest descent of 6.9 km dropping 175 m starting at 64.5 km. Later in the ride, gentler climbs up to 3.7% occur near 81.7 km and 92.2 km.
The route is mostly paved (97%) and runs largely on major roads (36%), main roads (29%), and motorways (26%). These roads have 149.8 km without cycle lanes and include 74.8 km of 80 km/h or faster roads. Named roads include Sharjah - Kalba Road for 42.4 km and others to the finish. Services at the start include supermarkets and restaurants. There is a very long stretch without a café, shop or water of 55.7 km between 39.9 km and 95.6 km, but places for food, fuel and shops become more frequent approaching Al Aqah where restaurants and eateries are present.
Why ride this route?
- The longest of the 5 rides from Nazwa.
- Tops out at 488 m, 63.7 km in.
- A 6.9 km descent dropping 175 m.
Highlights
- Climbing past Jabal Al Hinnah (637 m) near 58 km
- Longest descent of 6.9 km from 64.5 km dropping 175 m
- Passing below Jabal Abu Ziba at 134.5 km
- Finishing at Al Aqah after 165.7 km
- Sharjah - Kalba Road for 42.4 km
- Peak elevation 488 m at 63.7 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 54.8 km | 3.1 km · 99 m · 3.2 % · max 5.1 % | 379 m |
| Unnamed climb | 59.9 km | 3.6 km · 104 m · 2.9 % · max 5.8 % | 483 m |
| Unnamed climb | 81.7 km | 1.9 km · 70 m · 3.7 % · max 14.6 % | 309 m |
| Unnamed climb | 92.2 km | 2.3 km · 54 m · 2.3 % · max 3.3 % | 240 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 90% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 74.8 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 36% major road · 29% main road · 26% motorway · 3% quiet street · 6% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 149.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 74.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (42 km), Port Road (10 km), Dibba-Khor Fakkan Road (6 km), Kalba Beach Road (6 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 11% climbing · 12% descending · 77% flat
- Steep sections
- 1.6 km over 5% · 1.4 km over 8% · 1.2 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 11.6% at 88.9 km
- Longest descent
- 6.9 km from 64.5 km, dropping 175 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 56 km, from km 40 to 96. Along the route: 92 cafés and restaurants, 28 shops, 1 water point, 16 petrol stations, 12 public toilets and 3 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.3 kmDesert Mountain Supermarket · supermarket · 190 m off route
- 11.9 km2 December Cafeteria · café · 80 m off route
- 39.9 kmDrinking water · 50 m off route
- 60.9 kmToilets · on the route
- 96.1 kmHabib Beirut · restaurant · 100 m off route
- 101.6 kmToilets · 80 m off route
- 110.8 kmPizza Hut · restaurant · 60 m off route
- 115.2 kmCafe Di Roma · café · 60 m off route
- 116.8 kmBike rental · 140 m off route
- 118.4 kmBin Moosa Pharmacy · pharmacy · 70 m off route
- 121.3 kmZOOM · convenience store · 110 m off route
- 137.8 kmAl Madha Petrol · petrol station · 120 m off route
- 145.7 kmBaskinRobbins · ice cream · 100 m off route
- 146 kmAl Safeer Centre · supermarket · 190 m off route
- 148.1 kmADNOC · petrol station · on the route
- 150.3 kmBike shop · 30 m off route
- 155.2 kmIce Palace · restaurant · 70 m off route
- 155.5 kmToilets · 40 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 122 km — Fujairah Station (station), 560 m off route
Worth a stop
- 96.1 km — Hanging Garden Kalba (attraction)
- 112.1 km — Kalba Fort (castle)
- 115.9 km — Bull fighting (Bullring) (attraction)
- 146.9 km — Khorfakkan Beach (picnic site)
- 155.5 km — Al Badiyah Fort (castle)
Stay after this ride
- Fujairah Rotana · hotel · 30 m from the finish
- Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort · hotel · 240 m from the finish
- InterContinental Fujairah Resort · hotel · 450 m from the finish
- Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort · hotel · 900 m from the finish
- Naama · hotel · 1.0 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Al Fareed Restaurant (160 m), Ghadeer Saeed Café & Restaurant (250 m)
- Shops
- Nazwa Valley Grocery (290 m), Desert Mountain Supermarket (310 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- estacoza seafood (160 m), Subway (230 m), Sapore (250 m)
Know before you go
- Long 55.7 km stretch without café, shop or water (km 39.9 to 95.6)
- 149.8 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 74.8 km on roads with 80 km/h or more speed limit
