Road · United Arab Emirates
Coast to Coast: Sharjah to Khor Fakkan
A rolling 165 km road cycling route from Coast to Coast: Sharjah to Khor Fakkan through Al Mamzar, Al Layyah and Al Soor, with 1,295 m of climbing over Daftah climb (615 m). Most of it (149.3 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 125.4 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 57 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 59–116).
At a glance
- Best for
- Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 165.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,295 m
- Riding time
- 5–7 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 57 km
- Best months
- Dec to Mar
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Coast → Coast: Sharjah to Khor Fakkan
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,295 m
- 165 km
Route description
- Coast
- Al Mamzar
- Al Layyah
- Al Soor
- Al Ttay
- Wishāh
- Daftah climb (615 m)
- Ar Rufaysah
- Al Hutain
- Coast: Sharjah to Khor Fakkan
The route starts near Sharjah and heads through Al Mamzar (2 km), Al Nahda (2.3 km), and several other suburbs within the first 20 km, mostly on paved roads. The initial terrain is mostly flat with some minor elevation gain. The road mix includes 51% major roads, 22% main roads, and 18% motorway. There is a stretch of 56.8 km from km 58.7 to 115.5 with no café, shop, or water, requiring careful planning.
Climbing begins after km 113.8 with a series of four climbs ranging from 54 m to 191 m elevation gain, averaging between 2.5% and 4.9%, with the steepest section at 13.2%. The highest point is at 624 m around km 147.9. The longest descent is 6 km dropping 345 m starting near km 149.4.
Most of the route is paved and on main and major roads including 60.9 km on Khorfakkan Road. Main roads lack cycle lanes for 149.3 km and 125.4 km have posted speed limits of 80 km/h or more. Cafés, shops, and petrol stations are available primarily in the first 58.7 km and after 115.5 km, including a supermarket near km 154.1 and restaurants at the finish in Khor Fakkan.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs Daftah climb (615 m) (7.4 km at 4 %).
- Tops out at 624 m, 147.9 km in.
- A 6 km descent dropping 345 m.
Highlights
- Climb averaging 4.9% over 2.1 km to 459 m
- Highest point at 624 m around 148 km
- Longest descent 6 km dropping 345 m from 149 km
- Route passes through Sharjah suburbs early on
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 113.8 km | 2.1 km · 54 m · 2.5 % · max 3.8 % | — | 231 m |
| Unnamed climb | 119.7 km | 2.1 km · 87 m · 4.2 % · max 13.2 % | — | 329 m |
| Unnamed climb | 128.5 km | 2.1 km · 104 m · 4.9 % · max 11.5 % | — | 459 m |
| Daftah climb (615 m) | 135.2 km | 4.3 km · 191 m · 4.5 % · max 10.6 % | 7.4 km · 298 m · 4 % | 556 m |
Daftah climb (615 m) · full ascent, starts at 135.2 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 90% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 125.4 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 51% major road · 22% main road · 18% motorway · 4% minor road · 4% other roads and tracks · 1% unmapped
- Main roads
- 149.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 125.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Khorfakkan Road (61 km), Mahafiz - Al Fayah Road (18 km), Maleha Road (17 km), Sharjah - Kalba Road (11 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 10% climbing · 11% descending · 79% flat
- Steep sections
- 3 km over 5% · 1.1 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 9.9% at 131.2 km
- Longest descent
- 6 km from 149.4 km, dropping 345 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 57 km, from km 59 to 116. Along the route: 361 cafés and restaurants, 228 shops, 1 water point, 12 petrol stations, 8 public toilets and 8 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmToilets · 180 m off route
- 7 kmAl Bareej Cafeteria · café · 60 m off route
- 8.5 kmOrchid Pharmacy · pharmacy · 80 m off route
- 12.4 kmAl Jazeera Bicycles · bike shop · 110 m off route
- 16.8 kmBinSina Pharmacy;the Bedroom by Intercoil · pharmacy · on the route
- 17.5 kmAl Douri Supermarket · supermarket · 30 m off route
- 18.5 kmAl Shamikh · bike shop · 120 m off route
- 23.6 kmRasha Hardware Tr LLC · supermarket · 130 m off route
- 26.9 kmADNOC · petrol station · 90 m off route
- 31.9 kmSafty 2 · clinic · 570 m off route
- 36.5 kmBrandsouq · supermarket · 120 m off route
- 41.3 kmADNOC · petrol station · 110 m off route
- 49.9 kmDrinking water · 120 m off route
- 122.3 kmPineapple Cafe · café · 60 m off route
- 141.9 kmEmarat · petrol station · 110 m off route
- 142.3 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 155 kmWishi · restaurant · 80 m off route
- 163.2 kmADNOC · petrol station · 110 m off route
Worth a stop
- 17.8 km — Home Alqasemiah (attraction)
- 33.2 km — Sheikha naama (viewpoint)
- 154.4 km — Reservoir. Observation deck (viewpoint)
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Pizza Hut (110 m), Hardees (120 m), KFC (190 m)
Know before you go
- 56.8 km stretch without café, shop or water from 58.7 to 115.5 km
- 149.3 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 125.4 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
