Al Muwaiji Fort

Al Muwaiji Fort, locally known as Qasr Al Muwaiji, lies in the city of Al Ain, in the emirate of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

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 Muwaiji Fort was built somewhere in the first decade of the 20th century by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. It guarded the entrance to the oases area from the west. It also served as a diwan (a council or seat of governance) and as a place for the community to congregate. After Sheikh Khalifa died, the fort went to his son Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa.

In 1946, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was appointed Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain and moved into Al Muwaiji Fort. The fort became his diwan and family home. His eldest son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the present ruler of Abu Dhabi, was born here two years later, and spent much of his youth here.

In 1966, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became ruler of Abu Dhabi. He and his family then left the fort and moved to Abu Dhabi. After that Al Muwaiji Fort fell into disrepair, several buildings were demolished and a date palm plantation was set up within its walls. During the late 1970s the fort was restored for the first time. Between 2009 and 2015 the fort was the subject of an extensive archaeological excavation followed by a transformation into a museum.

Al Muwaiji Fort has a square ground plan with rectangular towers at 3 of its corners, of which 2 are projecting.

At present Al Muwaiji Fort can be visited for free. It now holds a museum. Very interesting, a very nice fort.

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Al Muwaiji Fort

Al Muwaiji Fort, locally known as Qasr Al Muwaiji, lies in the city of Al Ain, in the emirate of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

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 Muwaiji Fort was built somewhere in the first decade of the 20th century by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. It guarded the entrance to the oases area from the west. It also served as a diwan (a council or seat of governance) and as a place for the community to congregate. After Sheikh Khalifa died, the fort went to his son Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa.

In 1946, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was appointed Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain and moved into Al Muwaiji Fort. The fort became his diwan and family home. His eldest son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the present ruler of Abu Dhabi, was born here two years later, and spent much of his youth here.

In 1966, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became ruler of Abu Dhabi. He and his family then left the fort and moved to Abu Dhabi. After that Al Muwaiji Fort fell into disrepair, several buildings were demolished and a date palm plantation was set up within its walls. During the late 1970s the fort was restored for the first time. Between 2009 and 2015 the fort was the subject of an extensive archaeological excavation followed by a transformation into a museum.

Al Muwaiji Fort has a square ground plan with rectangular towers at 3 of its corners, of which 2 are projecting.

At present Al Muwaiji Fort can be visited for free. It now holds a museum. Very interesting, a very nice fort.

Gallery

Details
Hits: 4076