Road · United Arab Emirates
Showka to Kalba by the New Road
A mountainous 97 km road cycling loop from Showka, Ras Al Khaimah through Munay, Harrah and Al Maqt'a, with 1,577 m of climbing over Al Fujayrah climb (505 m) and Jabal Al Khasfah. Most of it (87.4 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 53.4 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 43 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 96.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,577 m
- Riding time
- 3–4½ hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 43 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Showka
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,577 m
- 97 km
Route description
- Showka
- Munay
- Harrah climb
- Al Fujayrah climb (505 m)
- Harrah
- Al Maqt'a
- Jabal Al Khasfah
- Minazif
- Kalba climb
- Showka
This 96.5 km loop starts and finishes at Showka in the Hajar Mountains of the United Arab Emirates. The route initially climbs steadily over 3 km with 107 m gain averaging 3.5%, followed by another 3.7 km climb gaining 107 m at 2.9%. Early in the ride, it passes beneath Jabal Al Hinnah at 2.8 km.
After 20 km, the ride goes through Munay before encountering several shorter climbs near Fayyad, Harrah, and Shia between 26.7 and 34.7 km, including one 3.4 km climb averaging 6.6% with a maximum gradient of 23.7%. The highest point is reached at 544 m at 34.7 km. Descending to about 3 m near 48.7 km, the route passes Al Maqt'a and Al Ghail before completing further climbs after 50 km up to 260 m over 4.2 km. The ride continues through Minazif and Al Qilē'ī before returning to Showka.
Surface is 96% paved with no gravel sections. Roads are primarily motorway (80%) with 87.4 km of main roads lacking cycle lanes and 53.4 km subject to speed limits of 80 km/h or above. The longest stretch without café, shop, or water is 42.7 km from the start. Toilets are available at 5.4, 13.2, and 48.3 km. Food and drink can be found near 42.7 to 53.6 km, with petrol and bike shops near 49.5 and 95.9 km respectively. Attractions near the route include Hanging Garden Kalba and Al Hafiya Lagoon.
Why ride this route?
- The most climbing per kilometre of the 16 rides from Showka: 16 m per km.
- Climbs the Harrah climb (3.1 km at 5.1 %), Al Fujayrah climb (505 m) (2.7 km at 7.2 %) and Jabal Al Khasfah (4.2 km at 6.4 %).
- Tops out at 544 m, 34.7 km in.
Highlights
- Jabal Al Hinnah at 2.8 km
- Highest point 544 m at 34.7 km
- Hanging Garden Kalba at 42.7 km
- Al Hafiya Lagoon near 54 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 3 km · 107 m · 3.5 % · max 5.4 % | — | 398 m |
| Unnamed climb | 4.6 km | 3.7 km · 107 m · 2.9 % · max 5.4 % | — | 488 m |
| Unnamed climb | 21.8 km | 1.9 km · 48 m · 2.6 % · max 4 % | — | 305 m |
| Unnamed climb | 26.7 km | 1.4 km · 40 m · 3 % · max 5.1 % | — | 275 m |
| Unnamed climb | 29.2 km | 1.9 km · 44 m · 2.3 % · max 5.6 % | — | 320 m |
| Harrah climb | 31.3 km | 3.4 km · 221 m · 6.6 % · steepest 500 m 8.3 % | 3.1 km · 158 m · 5.1 % | 544 m |
| Al Fujayrah climb (505 m) | 31.5 km | — | 2.7 km · 197 m · 7.2 % | 485 m |
| Unnamed climb | 39.2 km | 2.6 km · 82 m · 3.1 % · max 8.1 % | — | 281 m |
| Jabal Al Khasfah | 51.6 km | 4.2 km · 260 m · 6.2 % | 4.2 km · 273 m · 6.4 % | 280 m |
| Unnamed climb | 61 km | 1.3 km · 89 m · 6.8 % · max 14.6 % | — | 266 m |
| Unnamed climb | 63.5 km | 1.9 km · 70 m · 3.7 % · max 6.5 % | — | 232 m |
| Unnamed climb | 65.6 km | 1.8 km · 87 m · 4.8 % · max 9.5 % | — | 312 m |
| Unnamed climb | 69.4 km | 2 km · 65 m · 3.3 % · max 5.2 % | — | 308 m |
| Kalba climb | 82.2 km | 5.2 km · 151 m · 2.9 % · max 7.7 % | 5.2 km · 151 m · 2.9 % | 484 m |
Harrah climb · full ascent, starts at 31.3 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Al Fujayrah climb (505 m) · full ascent, starts at 31.5 km
Jabal Al Khasfah · full ascent, starts at 51.6 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 91% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 53.4 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 80% motorway · 7% main road · 5% other · 5% major road · 4% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 87.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 53.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (76 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 96% of the route is mapped as paved and 4% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 34% climbing · 31% descending · 36% flat
- Steep sections
- 8.3 km over 5% · 2.4 km over 8% · 1.3 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 21.1% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 4.8 km from 42.2 km, dropping 269 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 43 km, from the start. Along the route: 6 cafés and restaurants, 1 petrol station, 3 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 5.4 kmToilets · on the route
- 13.2 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 42.7 kmHabib Beirut · restaurant · 60 m off route
- 48.3 kmStarbucks · café · on the route
- 48.3 kmToilets · on the route
- 49.5 kmADNOC · petrol station · 50 m off route
- 53.6 kmMara Lounge · restaurant · 130 m off route
- 95.9 kmShowka Bicycles · bike shop · 500 m off route
Worth a stop
- 42.7 km — Hanging Garden Kalba (attraction)
- 54 km — Al Hafiya Lagoon (attraction)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Showka Bicycles (610 m)
Know before you go
- 42.7 km with no café, shop or water
- 87.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 53.4 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
