Qatar has numberous old forts and towers spread out across the country, offering a glimpse of bygone times – and the days when the tribes of the land were constantly on alert for invading armies. Some of the dozen or so heritage sites have been partially restored, while others exist as ruins or excavation sites.

Umm Slal Mohammed Fort, some 20 km north of Doha, was designed as a residential fort, combining civilian and military functions.

Borj Barzan Fort, also in the Umm Slal Mohammed area, was built with a style of watchtowers unique in the Gulf region. Al Ghuwair Castle, about 85 km from Doha, was built in the early 19th century with stone and mud walls that were 130 cm thick. Al Rekiyat Fort, about 110 km from the capital, has one square and three round towers, typical of old military buildings in the Gulf.

A fort was built at Murwab, 15 km north of Dukhan, during the Abbasid period (9th century AD). Five groups of buildings (some 250 houses and two mosques) were built on the site, around an older fort, and the area has been the scene of several excavations. Al Thugb Fort represents a simplified example of military architecture, and Al Wajba Fort, on the outskirts of Al Rayyan, witnessed a famous battle in which Qatar triumphed over Ottoman forces in 1893 AD.

It was recently restored to its former glory. Ruwaida Fort is built on a site that shows evidence of habitation dating back to the 10th century.

Al Huwaila, on the east cost about 29 km north of Al Khor, was the principle town of Qatar prior to the rise of Al Zubara and Doha and has a fort built during the early Islamic period. It was occupied by Al Musallam, members of the Bani Khalid, in the 18th century.

The forts of Al Koot in Doha and Al Zubara are both listed separately in this section.