Hike up the Hajar mountains to discover the life of ancient villagers, who constructed houses in Najd Al Maqsar settlement using palm fronds and depended on the cultivation of palm trees and selling dates for their living. You will encounter breathtaking views of the mountains of Khorfakkan and lush valleys of Wadi Shie, where water and fertile soil have always been in abundance.
NAJD AL MAQSAR – A MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT?
At first glance, it seemed to me that I was looking at a medieval settlement, somewhere in Europe. Thatched cottages climbing the slopes of the mountains, and at the very top, a majestic castle. Although that picture is confusingly similar to Najd Al Maqsar settlement, we are thousands of kilometers away from Europe, in the United Arab Emirates.
AL MAQSAR TOWER
Najd Al Maqsar village consists of thirteen old houses dating back to 100 years, constructed using stones and mud to build the walls, and palm fronds to cover the roofs. The houses were inhabited by people and served as a haven from the flow of torrents during the rainfall, as well as a place of residence and shelter. Within the settlement, a mosque and ancient tombs can be found.
The most famous monument of Najd Al Maqsar village is the historical Al Maqsar Tower, which was built about 300 years ago at the top of the mountain. Al Maqsar Tower is part of the watchtower network in Khorfakkan, which also includes Al Rabi Tower and Al Adwani Tower.
Similar constructions can be found all over UAE’s territory, for example, Al Mazra fort I previously wrote about here: Al Mazra Fort – the Eerie Marvel
ANCIENT TRACES OF HUMAN EXISTENCE IN WADI SHIE
The historical significance of the settlement of Najd Al Maqsar located at the top of a mountain in the Wadi Shie region is represented by many pieces of evidence and antiquities, which confirm the presence of humans existence dating back to thousands of years.
Wadi Shie area is distinguished by geography by a rugged mountain range, as well as valleys, from which the name of the region as a whole was derived. Wadi Shie is an extremely important archaeological site in the United Arab Emirates, as a large number of petroglyphs have been found there. Carved stones with many drawings of camels and horses are said to date back to 2000 BC.
Another place in Sharjah emirate that human presence dating back to the Bronze Age was confirmed, can be found in Wadi Al Helo. Read about Wadi Al Helo here: Wadi Al Helo – The Valley of Abundance.
MODERN DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF NAJD AL MAQSAR
The village will include thirteen hotel units in a heritage style, a mosque, toilets, barbecue areas, and outdoor seating. Najd Al Maqsar is currently being equipped with rooms with modern facilities like air conditioning, TVs, bathrooms, etc. making it possible to receive visitors. Once the restoration of the fort is completed, the terrace at the top will provide a charming view of the valley, the village, the farms, and the surrounding mountain heights.
HOW TO GET TO NAJD AL MAQSAR
Take the exit from the Sharjah – Khorfakkan road here: 25.348891, 56.317494. It can be reached by any type of car. There is parking right next to the Najd Al Maqsar entrance.
HIKING IN WADI SHIE
Set off for a hiking adventure and give yourself a chance to find prehistoric traces of human presence in the Najd Al Maqsar area. Start your hike here 25.347284, 56.316215 (marked as number 1 on the map). On your right-hand side, pass by the lush palm tree farm and relax to the sound of the water that irrigates the roots of the trees. A few steps further, on the left-hand side you will be able to spot ancient farming terraces used by people of Wadi Shie in the past, left abandoned nowadays.
Following a charming valley through which spring water runs the most time of the year, you will eventually reach this point: 25.344968, 56.318166 (marked as number 2 on the map) passing by the farms and taking the stairs up (25.346649, 56.317942) (marked as number 3 on the map) back to Najd Al Maqsar settlement. The hiking trail in Wadi Shie can be easily accomplished by young hikers as well.
Make sure to check out my video about Najd Al Maqsar:
REMEMBER:
- Do not leave any garbage behind, including food. Even organic waste can take months to biodegrade and meanwhile it will attract animals. It may make them stop eating their natural food and rely on what humans leave behind and make them sick.
- Have always a bag ready to collect trash left behind by other inconsiderate people – in the end, you are saving nature.
- Hike or camp over gravel and rocks. In some areas, the vegetation can take years to grow back.
- Leave natural and historical items where you find them.
- Minimize cooking over a campfire, use the stove instead – it is less impact on the wilderness.
UAE OFF-ROADER GUIDE
If you are looking for more off-road trails to discover around the United Arab Emirates, I can recommend this ultimate guide that is packed with many routes, giving very detailed information and answering all questions you could have about off-roading in the UAE.
You can get it from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eQMBbr
FIELD GUIDE TO EMIRATES
To learn more about UAE’s natural & archaeological treasures, check: https://www.fieldguidetoemirates.com
I hope you found this article about Najd Al Maqsar helpful and it gave you an idea of where to head to next weekend. If you are looking for more interesting places nearby, I recommend you to check: Snoopy Island: Discover the Underwater World of the Arabian Sea or Off-road Trail: Wahlah Mountains.
