Top 5 Forts in Qatar

Top 5 Forts in Qatar

Qatar boasts of some historical wonders and one can catch a glimpse of the vast history and legacy of the land starting from the finest of museums and landmarks to some eye-catching forts in Qatar.

Here we list our top five forts in the country.

1. The Al Zubarah Fort ( Zubarah)

Located on the outskirts of Doha and built by Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, the Al Zubarah Fort is one of the most prominent historic locations in the country. Originally built in 1938 it served as a coast guard station at first, however, it has now be turned into a police station.

The fort features one rectangular tower along with three circular towers that make up the whole structure and has many ancient rooms made of compressed mud and cement. The rooms boast of their amazing artworks and have a number of highly valuable archeological findings which is a not to be missed sight for the visitors.

Timings - 8 AM to 4 PM (Closed on Friday Mornings). No entry fee

2. Al Thaqab Fort (South of Ruwais)

Located 12 km to the south of Al Ruwais, the origins of the Al Thaqab Fort dates back a long way and natives and historical explorers believe that the fort was built in order to protect the well that is set to the west of the fort from where villagers used to get their water.

Interestingly, the word Thaqab means "the water in the bottom of the valley after the rain" which somewhat justifies the claims around the well.

In fact, it is one of those historical forts in Qatar that even served as shelters for the locals during an attack and  theories show that Al Thaqab Fort was originally built in the 17th or 18th Century, others argue for the 19th Century.

Timings - Closed on Fridays. No Entry Fee 

3. Al Koot Fort (Souq Waqif)

Nestled in the heart of Doha in one of the most iconic locations of the city, the Al Koot Fort is also called the Doha Fort and is located in the middle of Souq Waqif. The fort was built by Sheikh Abdulla bin Qassim Al Thani in 1880 to protect Souq Waqif from thieves at the time and having also served as a prison and even a police station.

Al Koot is one of the most prominent of Qatar forts and forms a perfect background for wedding photographs that are taken in Doha owing to its gorgeous white architecture. Featuring its square structure with three cylindrical and one rectangular tower, Al Koot was, in fact, abandoned by the Ottomans in 1927 and was rebuilt by Qassim Al Thani. Since then, the fort is well recognized as one of the finest museums in Qatar right at the center of Doha. Timings - 8 AM to 12 AM (Open all week). No entry free

4. AL Wajbah Fort (AL Rayyan)

Only 15 kilometers to the west of Doha in the popular city of Al Rayyan, the Al Wajbah Fort features fourth in our list and is one of the oldest forts in the country. Built in 1882 and having served as a residence for Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, the fort carries a vast history behind it. Al Wabjah was, in fact, a pivotal factor in the defeat of the Ottomans in 1893 when the army of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani defeated them.

Featuring its four magnificent watchtowers that are the main highlight, the fort underwent renovation in the later 20th Century and has been a popular historical attraction in Qatar over the years.

Timings:  8 AM to 5 PM Monday to Thursday (Closed from Friday to Sunday). No Entrance Fee

5. Zekreet Fort (near Duhkan)

The Zekreet Fort is one of the most prominent historical places in Qatar that attract travelers and historical explorers all year round. The fort was built between the 18th and 19th century and boasts of its unique design and is located on the west coast of Qatar close to Dhukan,

Interestingly, the Zekreet Fort underwent two separate phases of construction. Initially, the fort was built as a square structure without any towers. However, the fort, later on, underwent reconstruction and then the four towers on the outer corners of the fort were added. Timings - Open 24 hours. No Entrance Fee.