Qatar's fortified town of Al Zubarah has been recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its deep historical and cultural value to the country and the world. Be one of the many adventurers, who brave the Arabian Desert, to behold this once flourishing trading port town. Al Zubarah's history goes all the way back to the mid-1700s, when it was a thriving pearl fishing and trading port hub facing the Persian Gulf. Today, the town provides invaluable insights to the life of the Arabs before the booming oil economy dominated the region.
Al Zubarah, is the first World Heritage Site for Qatar. Because of the town's dominance in pearl trading, it has become a prominent commercial center for the entire Arabian Gulf. But this same prominence and power would later be the reason for the town's enemies, particularly, Bahrain's ruling family, to invade. Most of the town was destroyed in 1811, and then became fully abandoned during the early period of the 20th century.
Before its excavation in the 21st century, Al Zubarah had been forgotten, sleeping underneath the desert sand for many decades. These days, some areas of this impressive walled coastal town have been excavated and have become a highly protected archaeological sites. The remains of streets, courtyard homes, palaces, mosques and fishermen huts have been unveiled for all the world to see.
The 54-hectare town of Al Zubarah is a reflection of old Qatar and the manner in which its people lived. During your visit to this historic port town, you will be mesmerized by the long wall belt surrounding the once standing community. Remains of guard towers can still be seen around the fort area. Outside the walls is a separate quarter where houses were eventually built, marking the expansion of the town.
When you head out to the fishermen's village in the northwest section; you will discover the old yet distinct Qatari technique of building construction. Such technique combines mud mortar with limestone and coral rock to produce the base layer. This layer is then topped with a gypsum-based plaster, adorned with various geometrical patterns. One of the most notable landmarks in this archaeological site is the Al-Zubarah fort, which now functions as a museum and houses the Visitor Center. Here, you can explore exhibits and a vast collection of artifacts found during the first excavation of the area.
The good news is there is no admission fee for the Al Zubarah! Anyone can enter and explore this marvelous historical site as it is always open. What is a little trickier is getting to the site, which is an adventure in itself. The town lies on the northwest coast of Qatar, and is about 107 km from the city of Doha. A four-wheel-drive is the most ideal type of vehicle to cross the desert and reach Al Zubarah. A GPS device is very essential to help you find your way.
After spending a fruitful day walking around the site, take a break and go for a refreshing swim. Take note that there no refreshment stands in the town, so it's best to bring your own snacks and drinks. The Madinat Al-Shamal is the closest restaurant to the site.
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