Shaqra
It is a Saudi governorate, located 180 km north of Riyadh, the largest city in Al-Yamamah state. It was a stopping point on the Riyadh-Taif road before the opening of the new road. Formed before the advent of Islam, it suffered from the war of the Turks against Bin Saud in 1818, when the people of Shaqra were known for their support of the Imam. The Emir of Shaqra, Hamad bin Ghayhab, ordered the people of Shaqra to dig a deep trench around their city and they built a wall on the edge of it. When Shaqra was surrounded by Turkish artillery, its people went up to ambushes from which they attacked the Turks from the walls, making it difficult for the Turks to advance. The fighting intensified and when the people of Shaqra could no longer resist, they demanded a truce. It was agreed that the Turks would not enter the city and that Shaqra would be secured, provided that the Turks would not be attacked from behind when they advanced and that the people would submit to Turkish rule.
Al Qasab city
It is an ancient city that has been famous since the pre-Islamic era for its salt and wheat production. The city is located 160 km away from Riyadh and is also known for its poets. The Al Qasab Salt Flats make for an interesting site to visit as you can witness the production of raw salt from flat expanses of ground covered with salt. It produces about 200,000 tons of salt annually and has been renowned since ancient times for its high-quality salt, which is still sold in plastic packets throughout the Kingdom. Towards the west of the salt flats, the land is bordered by the massive sand dunes of the Ad Dahna Desert. The Qasab Salt Flats are just over an hour’s drive from the capital city, so you can easily plan a day trip here if you are in Riyadh.
Ushaiqer
It is an ancient city that has been famous since the pre-Islamic era for its salt and wheat production. The city is located 160 km away from Riyadh and is also known for its poets. The Al Qasab Salt Flats make for an interesting site to visit as you can witness the production of raw salt from flat expanses of ground covered with salt. It produces about 200,000 tons of salt annually and has been renowned since ancient times for its high-quality salt, which is still sold in plastic packets throughout the Kingdom. Towards the west of the salt flats, the land is bordered by the massive sand dunes of the Ad Dahna Desert. The Qasab Salt Flats are just over an hour’s drive from the capital city, so you can easily plan a day trip here if you are in Riyadh.
