Hlewa Heritage Market

Hlewa Heritage Market, also known as Hlewa Shops, is one of the traditional and commercial markets in Shaqra Governorate, located in Riyadh Province, in the center of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was built in 1931 after the settlement of the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. The market is one of the historical landmarks of Shaqra.

The Hlewa Heritage Market is known as Hlewa or Hlewa Shops, named after an orchard nearby called 'Hlwa,' with the market being named after its proximity to it. It is situated at the entrance of the heritage town, near Bab al-Talha Gate.

Hlewa Heritage Market was established adjacent to al-Majlis Heritage Market in Shaqra Governorate to accommodate the increasing number of merchants and traders. The market comprises over seventy shops. It includes a large open area designated for the sale of livestock, such as sheep and camels, in addition to goods brought from the desert and from both nearby and distant countries. The market had covered entrances and exits leading to it, estimated to be about six entrances and exits, providing shade for people from the sun and rain. One of the six doors was designated for the entry of goods.

The market shops display wooden and metal carvings, textiles, clothing, leather goods, and traditional furniture. The market attracts families, especially children, as well as heritage enthusiasts and collectors of traditional tools.

The buildings in Hlewa Heritage Market rise to a single story, with foundations constructed from stone. The walls are built using layers of sun-dried mud bricks (Madameek), with cylindrical stone columns. The exteriors are finished with a plaster coating.

The market's shops are rectangular in shape, constructed from mud and bricks with stone foundations. The roofs are crafted from tamarisk wood and palm fronds, supported by cylindrical stone columns (Khurz), and finished with gypsum plaster. Decorative elements adorn the balconies, door frames, and main facades, featuring intricate designs in both gypsum and clay.

Shaqra Municipality contributed to the expansion and renovation of Hlewa Heritage Market in 1981 as part of municipal development projects.