Al Qudra Stick and Loop

Dubai, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesRoad

Route contributed by Marcus · Last ridden Saturday 29th August 2026

85 km
Distance: 106 m
Elevation gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Paved
Surface

Elevation profile

Total ascent: 106 m
Distance: 85 km

Marcus’s notes

Al Qudra is Dubai's best known cycling track: a dedicated tarmac path with no cars, out in the desert south of the city. With more than 220km of track there are a variety of rides to suit all levels of cyclist. From the car park at the D63 roundabout a straight 17 km "stick" runs down to the start of the loop section. Here you can find a Trek shop with bicycle rentals and the famous Zad's foodstore amongst other small retail outlets. From here the common ride is either the full 50 km loop as shown in the route map here, or a slightly shorter inner loop most commonly know as "Jurassic". [Ride it and it will make sense!]. In both versions you ride through the dunes and circle back to Zads which provides a rest/coffee stop with just the stick left to take you back to the start. Flat all the way other than a few small inclines that can't really be described as hills.

Zads is the only stop, and you pass it twice: at 19 km on the way out and 65 km on the way back. Shops, toilets, water and a bike shop are all there. Depending on your direction of travel, there is also the mosque near to Bab Al Shams which offers drinking water all year round. Around the rest of the loop there is nothing other than a number of shaded areas with seating, so fill your bottles at Zads and carry enough for the loop. From May to September that means starting before sunrise.

The path is open and unsheltered, so the wind decides how hard the day is. Weekend mornings are super busy with groups on the stick; the loop thins out. Lights are worth having if you start before sunrise: the track is mostly unlit and most riders are out before dawn. For an entirely different experience try the same route at night. It's very dark and mostly silent when you're out towards the back of the loop beyond the solar park.

Highlights: The iconic ride for nearly all Dubai cyclists. Most of us have ridden this route 100s of times. The perfect place for a traffic-free group ride either early morning or late evening.
Watch out for: During Saturday mornings there can be riders of all experience levels all on the track at the same time. Always pay attention, be respectful and shout before passing. On night rides you may be treated to all manner of interesting creatures. Watch for oryx, camel spiders, hedgehogs, lizards, mice, and more.
Verdict: Would ride it again

Route overview

Suitable for riders looking for a moderate distance mostly flat ride with minimal climbing.

An 84.5 km loop cycle route in Dubai with 106 m of climbing, mostly on cycle paths.

The Al Qudra Stick and Loop starts near Dubai, with the lowest point at 42 m around 0.9 km and the highest at 110 m by 26.5 km. The route is predominantly flat, with 98% flat terrain and just 0.1 km of climbing exceeding 10% gradient. The entire 84.5 km loop follows a mix of mainly cycle paths (81.2 km, 97%), quiet streets, main roads and minor roads making up the remainder. Riders stay mostly on paved surfaces (99%). The three longest named roads cover most of the ride: Al Qudra Cycle Path Routes 4 and 1, and Link 1 with 35.2, 34.6 and 11 km respectively. There is 1 km on main roads without a cycle lane. The path includes a steepest 500 m section located at the start. Along the way, the route passes through Mugatrah at 50.3 km and Al Yalayis 3 by 79.1 km. There are convenient stops at 18.8 km including shops, toilets, bike rentals, petrol stations, and drinking water. Beyond 18.8 to 64.9 km riders face a 46.1 km stretch with no cafés, shops or water. Further supplies and food come near 64.9 km with restaurants and convenience stores.

Highlights

Mugatrah at 50.3 km
Al Yalayis 3 at 79.1 km
Highest point 110 m at 26.5 km
Al Qudra Cycle Path Routes 1 and 4

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

Mugatrah 50.3 km
Al Yalayis 3 79.1 km

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads: 97% cycle path · 1% quiet street · 1% main road · 1% minor road
Main roads: 1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Cycle paths: 81.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used: Al Qudra Cycle Path Route 4 (35 km), Al Qudra Cycle Path Route 1 (35 km), Al Qudra Cycle Path Link 1 (11 km)
Surface: Paved throughout
Gradient: 1% climbing · 1% descending · 98% flat