Road · United Arab Emirates
Showka to Tunnel 1 and the Oman Border
A hilly 113 km road cycling loop from Showka, Ras Al Khaimah through Al Qilē'ī, Fayyad and Shia, with 1,372 m of climbing over the Harrah climb. Most of it (97.8 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 35.3 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
- 113.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,372 m
- Riding time
- 4–5½ 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
- 1,372 m
- 113 km
Route description
- Showka
- Al Qilē'ī
- Fayyad
- Harrah climb
- Shia
- Wahala
- Al Naslah
- Fashrah
- Sikhе̄bar
- Showka
Starting at Showka, this 113 km loop heads through the Hajar Mountains, passing places like Al Qilē'ī at 26 km and Shia at 33 km. The route’s climbing begins early with moderate gradients up to 5.6%, topping at 394 m within the first 3 km and peaking at 511 m near 37 km. Climbing continues in the first half, with several short ascents averaging around 3-5% gradients.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Harrah climb (3.1 km at 5.1 %).
- Tops out at 511 m, 36.9 km in.
Highlights
- Passes beneath Jabal Al Hinnah (637 m)
- Views near Jabal Al Khasfah (464 m) at 44 km
- Near Jabal Naselah (178 m) around 69 km
- Loops past Jabal Ash Shahayrah (532 m) near 105 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 2.7 km · 101 m · 3.7 % · max 5.6 % | — | 394 m |
| Unnamed climb | 4.5 km | 3.8 km · 108 m · 2.9 % · max 5.2 % | — | 488 m |
| Unnamed climb | 21.9 km | 1.9 km · 49 m · 2.5 % · max 3.6 % | — | 305 m |
| Unnamed climb | 29.3 km | 1.9 km · 42 m · 2.2 % · max 5.2 % | — | 317 m |
| Harrah climb | 31.6 km | 3.1 km · 167 m · 5.4 % · max 9.3 % | 3.1 km · 158 m · 5.1 % | 493 m |
| Unnamed climb | 40.1 km | 2.5 km · 64 m · 2.6 % · max 3.6 % | — | 263 m |
| Unnamed climb | 51.7 km | 2.8 km · 82 m · 2.9 % · max 8.1 % | — | 92 m |
| Unnamed climb | 88.1 km | 1.5 km · 42 m · 2.8 % · max 6.4 % | — | 278 m |
| Unnamed climb | 97.9 km | 5.1 km · 148 m · 2.9 % · max 8 % | — | 479 m |
Harrah climb · full ascent, starts at 31.8 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 86% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 35.3 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 44% motorway · 40% main road · 5% other · 5% minor road · 6% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 97.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 35.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (51 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 95% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved and 3% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 27% climbing · 24% descending · 49% flat
- Steep sections
- 4.1 km over 5% · 0.9 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 21.2% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 4.7 km from 43.6 km, dropping 270 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, 2 shops, 3 petrol stations, 4 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 5.4 kmToilets · on the route
- 43.4 kmHabib Beirut · restaurant · 240 m off route
- 49.3 kmStarbucks · café · on the route
- 49.3 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 49.3 kmADNOC · petrol station · 180 m off route
- 51.1 kmKiosk · 120 m off route
- 83.4 kmnaseem al howailat · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 83.4 kmADNOC · petrol station · 150 m off route
- 98.5 kmToilets · 80 m off route
- 111.7 kmShowka Bicycles · bike shop · 490 m off route
Worth a stop
- 46.2 km — Animal Viewing (viewpoint)
- 51.3 km — Wildlife observation (viewpoint)
- 63 km — Wahla Fort (castle)
- 69 km — Jabal Naselah (peak, 178 m)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Showka Bicycles (620 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop, or water for 43 km from km 0
- 97.8 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 35.3 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- 1% gravel or unpaved surface
