Al Sheimaili tribe used to inhabit the bottom of the mountains and the area of Wadi Haqeel, as well as the following villages at the mountain tops: Sal Haqeel, Sal Dhayah, Al Baramah, Al Makhrams, Al Hilla, and Al Mansouriya. These abandoned settlements, consisting of fields and stone houses, are important reminders of history and they serve as invaluable windows into the past.
AN OFF-ROADING TRIP THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN
Initially, planning an off-roading trip, I thoroughly studied Google Maps in search for a new mountain road to conquer with my Jeep, I discovered the extension of the road in Wadi Haqeel, that was leading to ancient mountain village – Sal Haqeel.
Little did I know (and I only discovered it when I arrived at the location), that the road is completely damaged by rain and not accessible by car. Additionally, there is a warning board forbidding vehicles to pass through (which anyways would be not possible). But I did not give up and I decided to return another day with a backpack, to explore Sal Haqeel on foot.
MOUNTAIN PASS TO SAL HAQEEL
It is very easy to spot the beginning of the trail (25.857382, 56.064922) – a big red sign saying “Vehicles entry strictly prohibited”. You can reach this point by sedan car, although the road through Wadi Haqeel is a dirt road. Check the weather before heading to Sal Haqeel – the road leads through the dry river bed, therefore if it rains – you will be cut off and unable to come back.
As you pass a few meters you will find the exact same sign and a part of the clear road that still two years ago served as the only accessible by car passage to the villages at the mountain tops, including Sal Haqeel. The trail basically follows this damaged road, it is steep at times and may require some scrambling. From time to time, you will be passing the safety poles left by the side of the road use them as a reminder you are staying on a right track.
When reaching the top, you will find yourself in front of a huge plateau covered with endless fields reaching as far as you look into the horizon and the area closer to the dry river bed, covered by green trees. I did not visit that place after rain but you can imagine that once the water hydrates this barren land, it changes the landscape into a heaven-like garden.
You might want to either continue to hike following the road close to electricity towers or simply divert to the right, climb over the mountains, and reach another, a hidden village in the valley. From the top of the mountains, you will be able to admire the view of Ras Al Khaimah city and on the other, opposite site, beautiful sea views sinking into the mountain ridges.
The thing that surprised me was that I did not spot many of heritage houses there, as well as when I stayed and camped for the night, despite it being on weekend, there were no people around in the village.
THE LIFE IN SAL HAQEEL IN THE PAST
Wadi Haqeel is known for its abundance of rain and fresh water wells, as well as its rich cultural heritage. I previously wrote about Wadi Haqeel with the association to the history of pottery in this region here: Forgotten Story Buried in Wadi Haqeel.
Many may wonder about the life of the Al Shemaili people living in Sal Haqeel. They cultivated wheat and mastered the irrigation systems channeling the available water from the mountains to hydrate their stepped fields, which could hold water for long periods of time. They would typically harvest the crops twice a year. Their houses were built of mountain stone, known as bait al qufl (that is translated as “cave house”, as they were partially underground).
The women used to be responsible for housework, starting their day with making breakfast, bringing water from the wells, and collecting wood. The men were involved in farming and trading. Some of the people of Al Shemaili tribe, in the warmer months, when the palm trees started to yield, migrated from mountains to the coast, to work during the date season.
Below you can find my YouTube video from the hiking trip to Sal Haqeel, as well as Wikiloc trail recorded by me:
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 not only make them stop eating their natural food and rely on what humans leave behind but also it may 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/2UrKZdo
I hope you found this article about Sal Haqeel helpful and it gave you an idea of where to head to next weekend. If you are looking for more hiking trails in the UAE mountains, I recommend you to check: Unraveling the Mystery of Hebs Stairs, This Is Why You Should Go to Jebel Yanas Right Now! or Wadi Sidaqa: Forgotten Valley. Enjoy!
