Road · United Arab Emirates
Showka – Wahala – Sufayri Loop via Al Qor
A hilly 127 km road cycling loop from Showka, Ras Al Khaimah through Munay, Harrah and Sufayri, with 1,520 m of climbing over Al Fujayrah climb (505 m) and Showka climb (531 m). Most of it (110.1 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 52.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 65 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 126.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,520 m
- Riding time
- 5–7 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 65 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Showka
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,520 m
- 127 km
Route description
- Showka
- Al Fujayrah climb (505 m)
- Munay
- Fayyad climb
- Harrah
- Rāfāq
- As Simsimānīyah climb
- Sufayri
- Showka climb (531 m)
- Showka
This 127 km loop ride starts and finishes at Showka in the Hajar Mountains, United Arab Emirates. The route features 1391 m of climbing and mainly paved surfaces (95%). Early on it climbs twice within the first 8 km, with a 2.9 km climb gaining 106 m averaging 3.7%, and a 3.6 km climb gaining 107 m averaging 3%. After passing Munay at 19.8 km, it includes several smaller climbs, including a 5.1 km climb starting at 29.3 km with average gradient 3.7% and max 8.5%.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs Al Fujayrah climb (505 m) (2.7 km at 7.2 %), the Fayyad climb (5.3 km at 3.4 %) and the As Simsimānīyah climb (5.9 km at 3.2 %).
- Tops out at 587 m, 35.9 km in.
- A 6.4 km descent dropping 170 m.
Highlights
- Climb beneath Jabal Al Hinnah at 2.9 km
- Jabal Naselah peak near 50 km
- Longest downhill of 6.4 km starting at 8.5 km
- Al Watan Road ridden for 28.6 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 2.9 km · 106 m · 3.7 % · max 5.2 % | — | 398 m |
| Unnamed climb | 4.6 km | 3.6 km · 107 m · 3 % · max 5.3 % | — | 488 m |
| Al Fujayrah climb (505 m) | 16.5 km | — | 2.7 km · 197 m · 7.2 % | 485 m |
| Unnamed climb | 21.9 km | 2 km · 48 m · 2.5 % · max 3.9 % | — | 306 m |
| Fayyad climb | 29.3 km | 5.1 km · 185 m · 3.7 % · max 8.5 % | 5.3 km · 180 m · 3.4 % | 459 m |
| As Simsimānīyah climb | 65.2 km | 5.7 km · 183 m · 3.2 % · max 10.2 % | 5.9 km · 189 m · 3.2 % | 402 m |
| Unnamed climb | 82.8 km | 2.7 km · 74 m · 2.8 % · max 4.6 % | — | 451 m |
| Showka climb (531 m) | 99.3 km | 3.6 km · 192 m · 5.4 % · max 12.1 % | 3.8 km · 200 m · 5.2 % | 528 m |
Al Fujayrah climb (505 m) · full ascent, starts at 16.5 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Fayyad climb · full ascent, starts at 29.3 km
As Simsimānīyah climb · full ascent, starts at 65.2 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 87% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 52.3 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 46% motorway · 37% main road · 5% major road · 4% minor road · 8% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 110.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 52.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Al Watan Road (29 km), Sharjah - Kalba Road (25 km), E44 (6 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 95% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 3% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 25% climbing · 24% descending · 51% flat
- Steep sections
- 4.6 km over 5% · 1.3 km over 8% · 0.5 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 21.2% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 6.4 km from 8.5 km, dropping 170 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 65 km, from the start. Along the route: 9 cafés and restaurants, 3 shops, 4 petrol stations, 4 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 5.4 kmToilets · on the route
- 13 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 64.7 kmnaseem al howailat · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 64.7 kmADNOC · petrol station · 50 m off route
- 75.6 kmHatta Pharmacy LLC. · pharmacy · 200 m off route
- 75.8 kmToilets · 260 m off route
- 76.3 kmZOOM · convenience store · 70 m off route
- 76.3 kmENOC · petrol station · 80 m off route
- 76.5 kmJust Burger · fast food · 40 m off route
- 122.4 kmShowka Bicycles · bike shop · 570 m off route
Worth a stop
- 50 km — Jabal Naselah (peak, 178 m)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Showka Bicycles (610 m)
Know before you go
- 110 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 52 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 64.7 km from km 0 to 64.7
- Gravel or unpaved sections make up 2%
