Sharjah Cycling Tracks: Al Batayeh & Masaar, Mapped
Sharjah's cycling scene runs on two very different tracks. Al Batayeh Cycle Track, inaugurated in January 2023 in the emirate's Central Region off the E611, is a bicycle-only ribbon of tarmac, 24 km each way and 5 m wide, so a 48 km out-and-back, fully lit by solar streetlights, with parking, restrooms and a prayer area but no published hours or fees (it reads as free and always open). Masaar Track in Arada's forested Al Suyoh community is the opposite: a 6.6 km professional-grade lit loop threading woodland via three underpasses and a bridge, open 24/7/365, free with registration, with rentals from AED 50 at The Loop hub, and stricter rules: helmets and reflective clothing mandatory, no under-12s.
Key facts
- Al Batayeh: length
- 24 km one-way, 5 m wide, 48 km out-and-back · bicycle-only
- Al Batayeh: opened
- 18 January 2023, by Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi
- Al Batayeh: lighting
- Solar streetlights along the full length
- Al Batayeh: facilities
- Parking, restrooms at both ends + two en route, prayer area · overpasses added
- Al Batayeh: location
- Central Region, E611 corridor toward Al Dhaid, near Jebel Al Faya
- Masaar: track
- 6.6 km lit woodland loop · 3 underpasses + 1 bridge
- Masaar: hours
- 24 hours, 365 days, track and tunnels lit
- Masaar: rental
- The Loop hub: from AED 50 first hour (≈AED 30/hr after), helmet included
- Masaar: rules
- Helmet + reflective clothing mandatory · no under-12s · no e-scooters
Verified against the sources below (desk research, field ride pending). Facts we have not confirmed on the ground are left out until we ride the track.
Al Batayeh: the long ribbon
Al Batayeh is Sharjah's statement track: 24 kilometres of five-metre-wide, bicycle-only tarmac laid through the farms and desert of the emirate's Central Region, inaugurated in January 2023. It's linear, not a loop: you ride out toward Al Dhaid and come back, and the full out-and-back is a 48 km session with no cars, no junctions and solar streetlights the whole way. Facilities are functional: car parks and restrooms at both ends plus two along the route, and an open-air prayer area; a rental and maintenance centre was announced as planned at the opening, and cyclist overpasses have since been added for safety. No official operating hours or fees are published anywhere: every indication is a free, always-open public path, and we've flagged that for on-the-ground confirmation rather than stating hours we can't source. Our map carries the full 24 km from OpenStreetMap.
Masaar: the forest loop
Masaar Track could not be more different: a 6.6 km professional-grade circuit winding through the planted woodland of Arada's Masaar community at Al Suyoh, much closer to the Sharjah–Dubai urban area. Three underpasses and a bridge keep it grade-separated, the whole loop and its tunnels are lit, and it runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Entry is free but registration is required (via WhatsApp on Arada's official page), and the rules are the strictest of any UAE track: helmets and reflective clothing mandatory, no riders under 12, no e-scooters or skates, steady lights only, which is precisely why serious riders rate it. The Loop hub at the trackside (roughly 5 am–11 pm) covers rentals from AED 50 for the first hour with helmet included, servicing, a café, the Zad food-truck district, a kids' play area and a skate park. Its 6.6 km loop isn't in OpenStreetMap yet, so it doesn't show on our embed. Tracing it is on our list.
Which one should you ride?
Pick by the ride you want. Al Batayeh is training territory: long, flat, empty desert kilometres roughly 40+ minutes inland from Sharjah city, best attacked at dawn in season with all your own kit and water. The facilities are spaced, not clustered. Masaar is the accessible evening ride: short, atmospheric laps under lights in genuine tree cover, with rental bikes, coffee and food trucks at the hub, and a family scene around (though not on) the track. Dubai-based riders will find Masaar an easy add-on to a northern-emirates day; Al Batayeh rewards the dedicated trip. For the closest Dubai equivalents, compare Al Qudra for the long-ribbon experience and Nad Al Sheba for the serviced-loop experience.
From riders
No rider notes yet. Rode it lately? Tell the next rider what to expect.
FAQ
How long is the Sharjah cycling track?
The main one, Al Batayeh Cycle Track, is 24 km one-way and 5 m wide, making a 48 km out-and-back, bicycle-only and fully solar-lit. Sharjah also has Masaar Track, a separate 6.6 km lit loop at Al Suyoh. (Sources: Sharjah24, Gulf Today, Arada.)
Is the Al Batayeh cycle track free? What are its hours?
No fees or hours are officially published anywhere. It is a government-built public path with no ticketing mentioned in any source: it reads as free and always open, but we're confirming on the ground rather than stating unverified hours. (Source: Sharjah24.)
Where is the Al Batayeh track?
In Sharjah's Central Region on the Emirates Road (E611) corridor toward Al Dhaid, running from near the Jebel Al Faya area through farmland, roughly 40+ minutes inland from Sharjah city. (Sources: Gulf Today, 2GIS.)
What is Masaar Track and is it open at night?
A 6.6 km professional-grade loop through planted woodland in Arada's Masaar community, lit throughout (including its three underpasses) and open 24/7/365. Entry is free with registration via WhatsApp on Arada's site. (Source: Arada.)
Can I rent a bike at Masaar?
Yes. The Loop hub at the trackside rents from AED 50 for the first hour (about AED 30 for subsequent hours), helmet included, roughly 5 am–11 pm, with servicing, a café and food trucks alongside. (Sources: The Huntr, 2GIS.)
What are Masaar's riding rules?
Stricter than most UAE tracks: helmets and reflective clothing are mandatory, riders under 12 aren't allowed on the track, no e-scooters or skates, and lights must be steady, not flashing. (Source: Arada.)
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