Al Zubarah Fort Al Zubarah Tourism

Al Zubarah Fort is an iconic historical Qatari military fortress located in the north-western region of the State of Qatar, within the archaeological site of Al Zubarah town. Built in 1938 under the oversight of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, the fort was originally a police station and later used as a coast guard station. It's an excellent example of the traditional Qatari fortification architecture with high, thick walls designed for defense. The fort has a rectangular layout with three circular towers and one rectangular tower strategically positioned at the corners. Exhibiting the classic beauty of the old Qatari design, its walls are made of limestone and mud, with the roof developed from mangrove beams, which are a traditional building material in Qatari architecture. Al Zubarah Fort is part of the greater Al Zubarah archaeological site, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013, and encapsulates remnants of an ancient walled coastal town that once served as a key pearl fishing and trading port in the Gulf region. The fort stands as a well-preserved testament to the history and cultural heritage of Qatar and the region.