Ein Umm Ahmed

Trek 22

Ein Umm Ahmed is an oasis at the end of Wadi Zalaqa, a natural bottleneck where water from a large area is collected. In Wadi Zalaqa there are many lone Nawamis buildings on the banks of the wadi, but shortly before Ein Umm Ahmed a cluster of well-preserved buildings stand on a hill. The first garden is of Sheikh Ashish – it is one of the few gardens which grow more traditional crops. People are genuinely friendly in Ein Umm Ahmed, despite the outlawish feel. A 4×4 track leads next to Jebel Qalb over a rocky pass, connecting Ein Umm Ahmed to an area called Swana and Wadi Watir. On foot Wadi el Ein is the main route to/from the coast.

Other names/spellings: El-Ein, Al-Ain – Ain, Ayn – Umm Ahmad, Um Ahmed, Um Ahmad


  • Ein Umm Ahmed: also called simply El Ein, “The Spring”, it is a bottleneck at the end of Wadi Zalaqa where there is water in abundance in the ground, palm trees and gardens of different kind.
  • Wadi Zalaqa: a long and wide sandy wadi running between steep walls, it is part of the route under the Tih Plateau connecting the east and west coasts. You find ruined Nawamis structures all along the way, with a cluster of some better preserved ones near the oasis of Ein Umm Ahmed.
  • Nawamis site: a cluster of ancient Nawamis buildings up on the bank of Wadi Zalaqa, at the junction of Hlel el Waar leading to Jebel Berqa.
  • Wadi el Ein: a wadi with a long and wide, perfectly straight stretch that turns into narrower winding part and ends at a place known as Warwara. On foot or camel this is the main route from the east coast.
  • Warwara: an area with possibly water running on the surface at points and lush vegetation, it is basically part of the oasis of Ein Umm Ahmed, the bottleneck through which Wadi Zalaqa drains.

See: Trek 22 


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