Ushaiqer, a village of the Najd
Ushaiqer belongs to Shaqra Governorate, in Riyadh Province; it lies some 200 km north-west of the capital and 18 km north of Shaqra. Its name is said to come from “shaqra”, meaning fair or blonde, a nod to the reddish mountains that overlook the houses, according to Saudipedia.
The village’s history goes back some 1,500 years; its springs and gardens made it a stopping place for pilgrim caravans on their way to Makkah. In the sixteenth century, it became a centre of religious and scholarly learning in the Najd.
The mud-brick village
The heritage village has around four hundred mud-brick houses and twenty-five mosques, spread over seven districts whose winding lanes lead to palm groves and gardens. A wall with wide gates and tall towers surrounds it; at its centre lies a rectangular square, with the main mosque to the west.
The walls are of mud brick on limestone foundations; the roofs rest on tamarisk and palm trunks, covered with palm-frond mats and a layer of clay. Local residents began restoring the village in 2003.
Visitors can see the al-Salem Museum, founded by residents, with its embroidered clothing, jewellery, ceramics and old household utensils, as well as several old mosques, including the al-Faylaqiyah Mosque.
Shaqra, the old town next door
Some 18 km to the south, Shaqra also keeps an old town in the Najdi style, with its mosques, markets and houses, including al-Subaie House, and a town wall dating back to 1817, according to Saudipedia. The two fit well into the same day.
A day out from Riyadh
Ushaiqer is a full day out: some 200 km separate the village from the capital. Your chauffeur collects you from your hotel in the morning, waits for you at each stop and drives you back in the evening.
As in Riyadh, summers are hot and dry, so an early-morning visit is wiser then. Winter, cooler, suits a whole day outdoors. We check the opening times of the village and the museum with you before fixing the day and, on Fridays, plan around the midday prayer.
Planning your day
Two highlights make a better day than a crowded schedule. For example:
- Ushaiqer in the morning, the village then the al-Salem Museum; lunch; the old town of Shaqra in the afternoon; back to Riyadh in the evening.
- An early start in winter, with a stop at the Ushaiqer mountain lookout before visiting the village.
For a day out, the chauffeur and the car stay at your disposal for the time agreed in the quote. Tell us the date, the pick-up address and time, the number of passengers and when you would like to be back. Vehicles are provided by the Federation’s members according to their availability. See also long-distance chauffeur and chauffeur by the hour. Let’s talk about your visit.