Since its beginnings in the 1970s, mountain biking has become an increasingly popular sport that is today practised by millions all around the world. Here in the UAE, an increasing number of bikers who rode elsewhere and are keen to keep up with their favourite pastime has resulted in several groups being formed as riders head together.

Apart from the vast Rub Al Khali sand desert, the UAE is also geographically defined by the Hajar Mountains which run parallel to the east coast of the UAE. At their highest point up in the Musandam Peninsula, the Hajars reach a height of 2,000 metres and it’s in these peaks and valleys that you’ll find many graded tracks used initially by 4WDs which also offer the perfect terrain for cross-country MTB. Tracks are typically the width of a car and provide enough space for two cyclists to ride next to each other. Technically, they do not provide too many difficulties but they can become very steep at times. Also, when frequently used by cars, especially in steep zones, there can be a lot of loose gravel which makes cycling a bit slippery and dangerous as those spots are difficult to judge.

On some routes, the track crosses the wadi which makes it more strenuous to ride and harder to follow the trail. In those wadis, the tracks are from time to time covered with fresh gravel after rare but heavy rainfalls that occur mainly during the winter season. In less-used wadis, rains can alter the way of the track, so you might need to search out a new way to go on. Over the past few years, many new tracks have been built to serve larger infrastructure projects; although they may be not picturesque, they are often quite challenging to ride and it’s fun to access new areas. Occasionally, sand from the nearby desert can be blown over a track, which makes cycling more difficult.

Other than these, the remains of old donkey routes and walking paths can be transformed into popular single trails after some cleaning and trail building. In the area south of Shawka, in southern Ras Al Khaimah, for example, a group of MTB enthusiasts have put a lot of effort into the building of such a loop.