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Coast to Coast: Sharjah to Dibba

166 km road cycling route1,718 m climbing5½–7½ hoursGPX

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates · Road

A hilly 166 km road cycling route from Coast to Coast: Sharjah to Dibba through Al Mamzar, Al Jubail and Al Badaia, with 1,718 m of climbing over Daftah climb (744 m) and Jabal Daftah (641 m). Most of it (146.2 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 118.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 38 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 60–98).

Route contributed by Marcus, Richard Chapman and Stefan · Last ridden Saturday 19th March 2022

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At a glance

Best for
Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
165.5 km
Point to point
Elevation gain
1,718 m
10 m per km
Riding time
5½–7½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
98% paved · 0% unpaved · 2% no data
Traffic
Mostly main roads
146.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 118.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more
Food & water
Longest gap 38 km
361 cafés and restaurants · 231 shops · 1 water point · 13 petrol stations · 13 public toilets · 8 bike shops
Best months
Dec to Mar
Sharjah climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start → finish
Coast → Coast: Sharjah to Dibba

Map and elevation profile

Abandoned tobacco fields in the Wadi Helou
Photo: Alexandermcnabb · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,718 m
Distance
166 km
0200400600800m0 km50100166 km656 m · highest, at 127.2 kmStartFinish

Route description

  1. Coast
  2. Al Mamzarkm 2
  3. Al Jubailkm 18
  4. Al Badaiakm 40
  5. Daftah climb (744 m)km 118
  6. Jabal Daftah (641 m)km 118
  7. Daftahkm 118
  8. Al Burdikm 140
  9. Lulayyahkm 150
  10. Coast: Sharjah to Dibbakm 166

The route starts from Sharjah, quickly passing through areas such as Al Mamzar (2.1 km), Al Nahda (2.3 km), Al Khan (7.8 km), and continues through numerous suburbs and towns like Al Majaz (15.6 km), Al Jubail (17.9 km), Al Soor (18.2 km), and Al Qasimia (19.2 km). The road surface is 98% paved with no gravel sections. Road types include 60 km on Khorfakkan Road among others, with 13 km on main roads without cycle lanes and 118 km on roads with speed limits above 80 km/h.

Climbing begins significantly after km 96, with a series of four climbs totaling 658m of gain over 14 km. The first climb is 2.2 km at 2.5% average gradient, peaking at 231 m elevation, followed by a steeper section starting at 102.3 km with maximum gradients reaching 11.8%. The longest climb from 117.8 km gains 383 m in 6.3 km with an average gradient of 6.1%. The highest point is 751 m at 130.4 km. A long 9.7 km descent follows starting at 132 km. The final stretch leads through coastal towns ending at Dibba with restaurants and fast food options available.

Along the route there are cafés and restaurants spaced mostly in the first 60 km and again after 100 km. Notable gaps include a 38 km stretch from 59.8 to 98 km with no café, shop, or water source. There are toilets at several points including start and finish. Bike shops are near 13 and 20 km. Petrol stations and supermarkets are intermittently available.

Why ride this route?

  • The most climbing per kilometre of the 8 rides from Sharjah: 10 m per km.
  • Climbs Daftah climb (744 m) (6.3 km at 6 %) and Jabal Daftah (641 m) (5.7 km at 5 %).
  • Tops out at 751 m, 130.4 km in.
  • A 9.7 km descent dropping 553 m.

Highlights

  • Climbs starting from 96 km with gradients up to 11.9%
  • Highest point at 751 m near 130 km
  • Long 9.7 km descent from 132 km
  • Khorfakkan Road ridden for 60 km

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Al Mamzar 2.1 km
  2. Al Nahda 2.3 km
  3. Al Khan 7.8 km
  4. Al Khalidiyah 11.3 km
  5. Al Layyah 12.2 km
  6. Al Majaz 15.6 km
  7. Al Jubail 17.9 km
  8. Al Gharb 18.2 km
  9. Al Soor 18.2 km
  10. Al Qasimia 19.2 km
  11. Oud Al Muteena 29.5 km
  12. Al Mizhar 3 31.1 km
  13. Al Badaia 40.4 km
  14. Al Ttay 40.8 km
  15. Qatah 51 km
  16. Sha'biyyat as Rashidiyyah 64.1 km
  17. Wishāh 87.5 km
  18. Al Weshah 88.2 km
  19. Daftah 117.8 km
  20. Ghadf 118.1 km
  21. Shis 126.1 km
  22. Ar Rufaysah 138.2 km
  23. Al Qadsia 140.1 km
  24. Al Yarmouk 140.3 km
  25. Al Burdi 140.3 km
  26. Al Hutain 140.6 km
  27. Al Rifa'a 140.9 km
  28. Al Hayawah 140.9 km
  29. Khor Fakkan 140.9 km
  30. Al Mudaifi 142.5 km
  31. Lulayyah 150.2 km
  32. Zubarah 150.7 km
  33. Al Badīyah 153.9 km
  34. Haqil 155.2 km
  35. Nehay 155.2 km
  36. Sharm 157.9 km
  37. Al Aqqah 161.6 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideFull ascentTop on this ride
Unnamed climb96.3 km2.2 km · 55 m · 2.5 % · max 3.8 %—231 m
Unnamed climb102.3 km2.4 km · 89 m · 3.7 % · max 9.4 %—330 m
Unnamed climb110.9 km3 km · 111 m · 3.7 % · max 11.8 %—467 m
Daftah climb (744 m)117.8 km6.3 km · 383 m · 6.1 % · max 11.9 %6.3 km · 378 m · 6 %748 m
Jabal Daftah (641 m)117.8 km—5.7 km · 281 m · 5 %681 m

High point 751 m at 130.4 km; low point 1 m.

On this ride: the part this route climbs, cut from its own elevation profile. Full ascent: the whole named climb, measured the same way on every ride that uses it (its climb page).

Daftah climb (744 m) · full ascent, starts at 117.7 km

6.3 km at 6% · 378 m
400450500550600650700m3.6%5.9%8.3%11%11%0 km123456.3 km744 msteepest 11.3%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Jabal Daftah (641 m) · full ascent, starts at 117.8 km

5.7 km at 5% · 281 m
400450500550600650700m3.1%6.5%9.4%0.6%0 km123456.3 km681 msteepest 9.4%

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

This is not a cycle-track route: 88% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 118.3 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
59% major road · 18% motorway · 12% main road · 5% minor road · 5% other roads and tracks · 1% unmapped
Main roads
146.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
118.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
Khorfakkan Road (60 km), Maleha Road (18 km), Sharjah - Kalba Road (11 km), Batayeh Road (8 km)
Surface
Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved and 2% has no surface data.
Gradient
14% climbing · 11% descending · 75% flat
Steep sections
3.8 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 7.6% at 146.4 km
Longest descent
9.7 km from 132 km, dropping 553 m

Food, water and services

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 38 km, from km 60 to 98. Along the route: 361 cafés and restaurants, 231 shops, 1 water point, 13 petrol stations, 13 public toilets and 8 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 0 kmToilets · 170 m off route
  2. 7.2 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 40 m off route
  3. 8.7 kmAlpha Pharmacy · pharmacy · 90 m off route
  4. 16 kmAuberge · café · 90 m off route
  5. 18.6 kmAl Douri Supermarket · supermarket · 50 m off route
  6. 19.6 kmAl Shamikh · bike shop · 160 m off route
  7. 26.2 kmAl Sarab Cafeteria · café · 170 m off route
  8. 33 kmSafty 2 · clinic · 570 m off route
  9. 42.4 kmToilets · 100 m off route
  10. 46.6 kmStarbucks · café · 280 m off route
  11. 51.1 kmHani Wa Aafia Resturant · restaurant · 100 m off route
  12. 59.8 kmAl Muntather · café · 140 m off route
  13. 124.5 kmEmarat · petrol station · 130 m off route
  14. 124.8 kmToilets · 70 m off route
  15. 137.7 kmWishi · restaurant · 100 m off route
  16. 153.1 kmADNOC · petrol station · 110 m off route
  17. 154.4 kmToilets · 140 m off route
  18. 163 kmestacoza seafood · restaurant · 80 m off route

Worth a stop

  • 4.9 km — Ali Bin Rashid Square (castle)
  • 34.3 km — Sheikha naama (viewpoint)
  • 137 km — Reservoir. Observation deck (viewpoint)
  • 154.4 km — Al Badiyah Fort (castle)

Stay after this ride

  • Fujairah Rotana · hotel · 170 m from the finish
  • Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort · hotel · 190 m from the finish
  • InterContinental Fujairah Resort · hotel · 360 m from the finish
  • Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort · hotel · 780 m from the finish
  • Naama · hotel · 880 m from the finish

Start and access

Starts at Sharjah. Mapped within a short walk of the start and finish, from OpenStreetMap.

At the finish

Food and coffee
estacoza seafood (230 m), Subway (300 m), Sapore (270 m)

Know before you go

  • 38 km stretch without café, shop or water from 59.8 to 98 km
  • 146 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • 118 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more

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

6 photographs from the road

Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Alexandermcnabb · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

About this route

Ridden by
Marcus, Richard Chapman and Stefan
Dates ridden
to · 3 recordings
Route line
Built from 3 GPS recordings of the ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Sharjah (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

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