Qal'at Murair

Qal'at Murair (also Qal'at Im Murair, Arabic: قلعة مرير) is a ruined and deserted fortified castle located 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) from the south eastern part of the town of Zubarah.[1]

History

Qal'at Murair was built by the Al Bin Ali of the Utub tribe after their arrival to Zubarah from Kuwait.[2] It was built in attempt to thwart off challenges by the Al Musallam branch of the Bani Khalid, who ruled over most of Qatar.[3] They initiated the 1783 Utub invasion of Bahrain from the fort.[4]

Description of the fort

This castle was built 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) outside the town of Zubarah with a channel and four walls lying between the town and the fort as well as a cemetery some 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) outside the town.[2] It was a fortified and was built to oversee and protect the town from any invaders. Inside the fort was a masjid known as Murair Masjid as well a well two fathoms deep, and outside the fort there are five wells one fathom deep, and all of its water is fresh.[1]

See also

• Bani Utbah
• Zubarah

References

1. The Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman, and Central Arabia, John Gordon Lorimer, Volume II, Part 9 (Geographical & Statistical), 1905, p 1524
2. "Qatar's response to the question put by Judge Parra Aranguren to Qatar and Bahrain" (PDF). International Court of Justice. 13 July 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2015.
3. Rahman, Habibur (2006). The Emergence Of Qatar. Routledge. p. 49. ISBN 978-0710312136.
4. Althani, Mohamed (2013). Jassim the Leader: Founder of Qatar. Profile Books. p. 26. ISBN 978-1781250709.