Where to ride your mountain bike
Here are some of Qatar's most popular locations for mountain biking. Learn more about off-road cycling in Qatar with QCR.
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Al Kharrarah
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A true hidden gem in the desert, Al Kharrara is a small settlement that is a gateway to some of the best off road riding Qatar has to offer. It takes longer to reach and gets fewer visitors but it is well worth the effort. Numerous tracks have been explored and continue to develop nearby. A large high feature akin to a mesa is visible when you approach from the Al Kharrara Road. Large farms and other activity are present in the area. It's a remarkably green area and there are sometimes open areas of water after large rainstorms. Best explored in the cooler months due to drive times.
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Al Wakrah area:
Mukaynis Farm Singing Sand Dunes |
QOG most often ride in the large area south of Salwa Road between Orbital Highway and Old UAE Highway. Specifically known as the Al Wakrah and Al Rayyan Municipalities. This area has all Qatar can offer for terrain such as large (up to 50+m high) sand dunes, cliffs and valleys, water features, flat open terrain, rock gardens, caves and much more. There are 100's of kms of tracks crisscrossing the area with many more yet to be discovered and mapped.
Singing Sand Dunes: Taking the Al Kharrara exit from Orbital Highway you enter the SInging Sand Dunes area. Many farms, camps and abandoned structures dot this area. The most prominent feature being the large Barchan dunes. 98% of the riding in the area can be done on a XC bike but 100% of the fun is to be had on a fat bike! The dunes are unique since they are large accumulations of very fine windblown sand in an otherwise rocky hard ground landscape. You can ride up to the edge of most dunes on a XC bike but will need a fat bike (the fatter the better) to climb and descend the dunes without walking. Mukaynis Farm: A prominent feature on most aerial maps, Mukaynis Farm (currently exit 35 on Salwa Road) is in an area of flat to rolling terrain with some rocky outcrops and high ground and small green wadis with camel farms and local camps. Mukaynis Farm itself is fenced off but the areas around it are wide open and easy to park and begin riding. There is activity such as gravel/sand mining and "development" of local areas which can cut routes off. Best to go with an experienced ride leader first. |
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The Duhail cycle route we know today was first 'discovered' back in the early days of MTBing in Qatar (c. 2010). Situated on an area of scrub land, the surroundings aren't as pretty as Zekreet or Fuwairit but the proximity to Doha makes this course a popular one, especially on Friday mornings. Even the summer heat doesn't stop us - just set the alarm for 3 am!
The course may appear flat from a distance, but you’ll feel the burn after completing the 5km loop of continuous undulations, tight turns, drops, jumps and old tyres. Sadly, Doha is slowly encroaching on the course, there are new developments surrounding the site and access roads crossing the track (beware of trucks). We're not sure how much longer we'll have this resource so make the most of it. |
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The Zekreet peninsula is arguably one of the most beautiful areas of Qatar. It’s also one of the best places to go mountain biking, with terrain ranging from grass meadows to steep loose descents, dunes and limestone bowls.
The area is a UNESCO designated biosphere (Google ‘Al Reem’) and home to a variety of flora and fauna. Zekreet has a breeding programme for the native oryx and gazelle and it’s not unusual to see them grazing. Ostrich too, although thankfully these are penned in The map shows two routes which featured on the 2015 MTB race through Zekreet, with additional ‘detours of interest’ and suggested parking areas, however there is plenty of scope for creating your own routes. After your ride there are lots of beaches along the coastline of the peninsula where you can cool off with a swim in the clear sea and refuel from the BBQ. Please keep Zekreet beautiful by taking your litter home and cleaning up all evidence of BBQs. If you are driving near the coast or after rain, beware that the ground can be very soft. Even 4x4s can get stuck; the rising tide lapping ever closer while the owners frantically look for anyone to tow them out. The Coast Guard have got pretty good at this! |
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This rocky outcrop around one hour north of Doha offers a couple of hours' fun riding up and down the steep gullies, drop-offs and smooth rock faces. Test your nerve along a narrow ledge above the sea.
As a bonus, you are right next to one of Qatar's best beaches. Mountain biking in this country is actually a triathlon of cycling, swimming and barbeque! The routes on the map are suggestions and there are many other possibilities. For a longer ride, follow the coast track north to Al Mafjar to the mangroves and another great beach. On the way there are a few further rocky outcrops, providing jumps and drop-offs. There are some historic settlements along the coast. Please show respect and don’t ride through the old buildings and cemetery. |
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Khor al Adaid (Inland Sea)
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The longest, steepest and most intimidating descents can be found among the sand dunes surrounding the inland sea in the south. It's daunting at first but you quickly learn how to balance while riding down the steep sand. Until you do, you'll have a soft landing and if you find that you like having sand everywhere, then dune biking could be for you. Needless to say, the fat bike is king here.
Each year a 40km race follows a route of salt pans from Sealine resort to the Inland Sea crossing sections of sand and dune on the way (see calendar). We won't provide routes here and instead suggest you go out and discover the biggest, steepest, most bad-ass dunes for yourself. But always follow Qatar's desert driving guidelines:
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