Al Hillah Castle

Al Hillah Castle, sometimes also spelled as Hilla or Hela, lies in the center of the city of Al Buraimi, in the Al Buraymi Governorate in Oman.

The present twin cities of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates and Al Buraimi in Oman were originally a group of oases, separated by desert, centered in an area of some 24 km², just north of the Jebel Hafeet mountain. Originally, the whole area was known as Al Buraimi Oasis. In the late 19th and early 20th century, numerous forts and towers were built to solidify Abu Dhabi's control over the western oases and to protect the settlements and oases from roaming bandits.

In 1952 Saudi Arabia sent raiders to capture the Abu Dhabi forts and incorporate the oasis into the Saudi kingdom. Forces from the Trucial Oman Scouts, as well as the army of Muscat-Oman, arrived to recapture the oasis. With British intervention, the Saudi forces surrendered.

After the independence of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, Abu Dhabi and Oman agreed on final borders, dividing the oases. The Abu Dhabi part was then known as Al Ain and the Oman part as Al Buraimi. From then on, Al Ain experienced rapid growth, quickly becoming larger and more successful than Al Buraimi. Nowadays, Al Ain is a bustling city while Al Buraimi is more like a quiet town.

Al Hillah Castle was probably built somewhere around 1800. It used to be the residence of the local governor. It has a rectangular ground plan with 2 enclosures. I don't have any other historical information about the castle. If you know more, please mail me.

At present Al Hillah Castle can be visited for a small fee during opening hours. A nice castle. If you visit, don't forget to visit the pleasant souq right next to it. Al Khandagh Castle and the Al Buraimi Towers are nearby.

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