Road · United Arab Emirates
Showka to Fujairah
A hilly 108 km road cycling loop from Showka, Ras Al Khaimah through Munay, Minazif and Shia, with 1,554 m of climbing over the Harrah climb and the Far`ah climb. Most of it (89.3 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 52.9 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 60 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 108.1 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,554 m
- Riding time
- 3½–5 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 60 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Showka
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,554 m
- 108 km
Route description
- Showka
- Munay
- Minazif
- Harrah climb
- Shia
- Al Farfar
- Far`ah climb
- Mamduh
- Minha
- Showka
The route starts at Showka and climbs steadily for 2.5 km gaining 112 m at an average gradient of 4.5%, followed by shorter climbs, with a high point at 717 m reached near 38 km after a steep 3.8 km climb averaging 10.2% gradient, maximum 31.2%. The ride passes through Munay (24.4 km), Al Qilē'ī, Minazif, and Fayyad, before descending and rising again around Al Uqdah and Ihfarah. The profile features 29% climbing, 28% descending, and 43% flat sections. Surfaces are mainly paved (92%) with a little gravel. Road types include 51% motorway, 34% main road, and minor roads, quiet streets and tracks making up the rest. Main roads without cycle lanes total 89.3 km and 52.9 km are on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more.
The longest descent is 9.6 km dropping 235 m, occurring from 45.9 km. Places passed later in the ride include Al Farfar, Far`ah, Madouk, Mamduh, Rima and Esfini before returning to Showka. There is no café, shop or water for the first 60 km. Food and water are available near 60 km and again near the finish at about 104 km. Two petrol stations lie between 63 and 70 km. Toilets occur early in the route near 10 and 18 km. A bike shop is at the start and end at Showka.
Nearby peaks include Jabal Al Hinnah (637 m) at 7.2 km, Jabal Ash Shahayrah (532 m) at 10.7 km, Jabal Al Miqsha (400 m) near 29.4 km, Jabal Hafarah (112 m) at 56.3 km, and Jabal al Fa'rat (467 m) at 89.9 km. Recorded temperatures for riding are between 20 °C and 25 °C in the months February, October, November and December.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Harrah climb (3.1 km at 5.1 %) and the Far`ah climb (7.3 km at 4.1 %).
- Tops out at 717 m, 38.2 km in.
- A 9.6 km descent dropping 235 m.
Highlights
- High point 717 m at 38 km
- Climb with maximum gradient 31% at 34 km
- Longest descent 9.6 km dropping 235 m
- Peaks Jabal Al Hinnah and Jabal Ash Shahayrah nearby
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 2.5 km · 112 m · 4.5 % | — | 409 m |
| Unnamed climb | 3.9 km | 2.2 km · 84 m · 3.8 % · max 9.1 % | — | 398 m |
| Unnamed climb | 7.7 km | 3.7 km · 107 m · 2.9 % · max 5.3 % | — | 487 m |
| Unnamed climb | 25.1 km | 2.1 km · 48 m · 2.3 % · max 4 % | — | 304 m |
| Harrah climb | 32 km | 2.1 km · 46 m · 2.2 % · max 5.5 % | 3.1 km · 158 m · 5.1 % | 320 m |
| Unnamed climb | 34.4 km | 3.8 km · 389 m · 10.2 % | — | 717 m |
| Unnamed climb | 41.7 km | 2.5 km · 57 m · 2.3 % · max 5.2 % | — | 269 m |
| Unnamed climb | 70.2 km | 4.5 km · 117 m · 2.6 % · max 4.6 % | — | 205 m |
| Far`ah climb | 74.8 km | 6.2 km · 265 m · 4.3 % · max 7.5 % | 7.3 km · 296 m · 4.1 % | 476 m |
| Unnamed climb | 91 km | 1.5 km · 43 m · 2.9 % · max 5.3 % | — | 339 m |
Harrah climb · full ascent, starts at 31.7 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Far`ah climb · full ascent, starts at 74.8 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 83% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 52.9 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 51% motorway · 34% main road · 5% minor road · 5% other · 2% other roads and tracks · 4% unmapped
- Main roads
- 89.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 52.9 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (26 km), H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Freeway (26 km), Mohammed Bin Zayed City (6 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 92% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved and 7% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 29% climbing · 28% descending · 43% flat
- Steep sections
- 5.9 km over 5% · 1.8 km over 8% · 1.3 km over 10%
- Longest descent
- 9.6 km from 45.9 km, dropping 235 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 60 km, from the start. Along the route: 3 cafés and restaurants, 2 shops, 2 water points, 2 petrol stations, 2 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 9.9 kmToilets · on the route
- 17.6 kmToilets · 80 m off route
- 60 kmAl Gazal Cafeteria · restaurant · 90 m off route
- 63.6 kmADNOC · petrol station · on the route
- 69.9 kmADNOC · petrol station · 170 m off route
- 84.8 kmDrinking water · 110 m off route
- 104.2 kmWadi al meqaitei · convenience store · on the route
- 104.2 kmDrinking water · 30 m off route
- 104.5 kmRestaurant · 40 m off route
- 106 kmShowka Bicycles · bike shop · 460 m off route
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Showka Bicycles (850 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 60 km from km 0
- 89.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 52.9 km on roads with speed limit 80 km/h or more
- 1% gravel or unpaved
