Qal'at Murair (also Qal'at Im Murair) (Arabic: قلعة مرير) is a ruined and deserted fortified castle located a mile and a half to the south eastern part of the town of Zubarah.[1]

History

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Qal'at Murair was built by the Al Bin Ali, main and principal 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

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This castle was built 1500 meters outside the town of Zubarah with a channel and four walls lying between the town and the fort as well as a cemetery some 2100 meters outside the town.[2] It was a fortified unit 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

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References

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  1. ^ a b The Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman, and Central Arabia, John Gordon Lorimer, Volume II, Part 9 (Geographical & Statistical), 1905, p 1524
  2. ^ a b "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.