Road · United Arab Emirates
Coast to Coast: Sharjah to Khor Fakkan via the Hills
A hilly 218 km road cycling route from Coast to Coast: Sharjah to Khor Fakkan via the Hills through Al Mamzar, Al Majaz and Oud Al Muteena, with 2,000 m of climbing over Showka climb (531 m) and Daftah climb (529 m). Most of it (186.7 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 143 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 45 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 90–135).
At a glance
- Best for
- Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 217.6 km
- Elevation gain
- 2,000 m
- Riding time
- 7½–10½ hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 45 km
- Best months
- Dec to Mar
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Coast → Coast: Sharjah to Khor Fakkan via the Hills
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 2,000 m
- 218 km
Route description
- Coast
- Al Mamzar
- Al Majaz
- Oud Al Muteena
- Showka climb (531 m)
- Musseili
- Daftah climb (529 m)
- Ghadf
- Al Hutain
- Coast: Sharjah to Khor Fakkan via the Hills
Starting in Sharjah, the route quickly passes through urban areas including Al Mamzar, Al Nahda, and Al Khan to Al Qasimia by 18.7 km. It then continues largely on motorways and major roads such as Sharjah - Kalba Road (44.9 km), Maleha Road (33.3 km), and Khorfakkan Road (40.4 km), covering 101.7 km on motorways and 68.6 km on major roads. The surface is mostly paved (97%), with a minor 1% gravel or unpaved section. The route crosses through places like Milehah, Musseili, Shawka, and Daftah before reaching Khor Fakkan at 212.8 km.
Climbing is moderate with a total elevation gain of 1466 m. Seven climbs are noted, including a 3.8 km section at 5.1% average gradient and a maximum of 12.3% between 111.3 km and 115.1 km, and a lengthiest descent of 12.8 km dropping 526 m from 201.8 km to near the finish. Most of the terrain is flat or gently rolling, with 14% climbing and 14% descending. Facilities including cafés, supermarkets, petrol stations, bike shops, and toilets occur mostly before 90 km; however, there is a 44.9 km stretch between 90.3 km and 135.2 km without cafés, shops, or water.
Why ride this route?
- The longest of the 8 rides from Sharjah.
- Climbs Showka climb (531 m) (3.8 km at 5.2 %) and Daftah climb (529 m) (4.1 km at 4 %).
- Tops out at 669 m, 196 km in.
- A 12.8 km descent dropping 526 m.
Highlights
- Climbs around 111 km with max 12.3% gradient
- Longest descent 12.8 km dropping 526 m near 201.8 km
- Route crosses Sharjah - Kalba Road for 44.9 km
- Passes through Khor Fakkan at 212.8 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 90.2 km | 3.5 km · 104 m · 3 % · max 4.7 % | — | 371 m |
| Unnamed climb | 95.4 km | 3.7 km · 90 m · 2.5 % · max 4.9 % | — | 464 m |
| Showka climb (531 m) | 111.3 km | 3.8 km · 192 m · 5.1 % · max 12.3 % | 3.8 km · 200 m · 5.2 % | 529 m |
| Unnamed climb | 168.4 km | 2.1 km · 40 m · 2 % · max 2.7 % | — | 216 m |
| Unnamed climb | 174.3 km | 2.4 km · 81 m · 3.4 % · max 12.1 % | — | 317 m |
| Unnamed climb | 183 km | 2.7 km · 103 m · 3.8 % · max 8.8 % | — | 453 m |
| Daftah climb (529 m) | 189.7 km | 4.1 km · 146 m · 3.6 % · max 6.8 % | 4.1 km · 163 m · 4 % | 512 m |
Showka climb (531 m) · full ascent, starts at 111.3 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Daftah climb (529 m) · full ascent, starts at 189.6 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 86% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 143 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 47% motorway · 32% major road · 8% main road · 4% cycle path · 8% other roads and tracks · 1% unmapped
- Main roads
- 186.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 143 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 8.3 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (45 km), Khorfakkan Road (40 km), Maleha Road (33 km), Al Watan Road (13 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 14% climbing · 14% descending · 72% flat
- Steep sections
- 4.6 km over 5% · 0.8 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 9.3% at 115.6 km
- Longest descent
- 12.8 km from 201.8 km, dropping 526 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 45 km, from km 90 to 135. Along the route: 364 cafés and restaurants, 236 shops, 1 water point, 12 petrol stations, 10 public toilets and 9 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmToilets · 170 m off route
- 2.3 kmAl Iqbal Pharmacy · pharmacy · 220 m off route
- 8 kmAl Madina Supermarket · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 13.3 kmAl Jazeera Bicycles · bike shop · 170 m off route
- 14.5 kmPharmacy Ibn Zohr · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 18.7 kmfalafll · café · 50 m off route
- 19.1 kmTexaco · petrol station · 70 m off route
- 27.7 kmADNOC · petrol station · 60 m off route
- 37.2 kmBrandsouq · supermarket · 130 m off route
- 41.9 kmADNOC · petrol station · 130 m off route
- 59.3 kmAl Muntather · café · on the route
- 74.8 kmADNOC · petrol station · 140 m off route
- 78 kmAl Alwan Althalatha Cafe · café · 100 m off route
- 96.7 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 135.2 kmShowka Bicycles · bike shop · 90 m off route
- 148.7 kmAl Alwan Pharmacy LLC · pharmacy · 120 m off route
- 196.7 kmAlsad Ice Cream - Branch 2 · ice cream · 40 m off route
- 208.7 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 40 m off route
Worth a stop
- 4.7 km — Ali Bin Rashid Square (castle)
- 14.9 km — Almajaz Park (attraction)
- 33.7 km — Sheikha naama (viewpoint)
- 208.7 km — Reservoir. Observation deck (viewpoint)
Know before you go
- 44.9 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 90.3 to 135.2 km
- 186.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 143 km on roads with speeds posted over 80 km/h
- Short gravel or unpaved section 1% of route
