Bedouins first settled here 1,500 years ago and Ushaiger quickly became a popular stopping point for pilgrims crossing to Makkah, due to its springs and low-brimmed olive and palm groves. Ushaiger means ‘little blonde,’ reflecting the nearby red mountain that looms over the yellow mud houses. A small community still lives there and keeps the village alive by using its schools, shops, and mosques. You walk through narrow lanes to enter a living museum, draped with traces of an ancient way of life.

Ushaiger is a labyrinth of winding alleyways, shaded pathways and timber-framed walkways, crossing between hundreds of mud houses. The village is divided into districts and bisected by groves of palm trees, and includes a cluster of beautifully renovated houses. These offer a stunning example of Najdi architecture, with its distinctive triangular windows and roofs, and ornately carved wooden doors. Some still bear the names of the families who lived there.