One of a kind: The state receives its first UNESCO World Heritage Site listing

Al Zubarah is one of the largest and best-preserved examples of an 18th-century traditional pearling and trading settlement in the Gulf region. It is considered the most important archaeological site in Qatar. Long ago it was a hive of activity, maintaining trade links throughout the Arabian Peninsula, Asia, Africa and Europe. Although it now lies empty, in the past the city was bustling and its harbour was teeming with fishing, pearling and trading vessels. Recently, however, Al Zubarah has come back to life due to archaeological excavations that are revealing details of the daily lives of the people in this once thriving trading hub.

A Unique View

The site is a unique display of human interaction with the sea and the harsh environment in the region. Some of the artefacts found, such as pearl divers’ weights, imported ceramics, depictions of dhows, fish traps and wells, not only show how vital trade and commerce was for the town but also how closely its inhabitants were connected to the sea and desert that surrounded them. The layout of the town was designed with narrow streets running down to the sea and a souq with rows of shops that stood near the shoreline. Houses were built from beach rock or lime stone quarried nearby. The town was destroyed in 1811, resettled on a smaller scale and then gradually declined in the late 19th century. It was subsequently abandoned in the mid-20th century due to territorial disputes between the sheikhs of Bahrain and Qatar. However, layers of desert sand have preserved the urban layout of Al Zubarah almost entirely. The site covers an area of 60 ha with remains of houses, mosques, fortified buildings and a souq, which provide an insight into what life was like in the area in the 18th and 19th centuries, before the discovery of oil and gas. Al Zubarah was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in June 2013, and according to UNESCO, it is “an exceptional testimony to the merchant and pearl trading tradition” of the Gulf region. It is the first entry for Qatar on the international register and is now one of 911 natural and cultural heritage sites in the world.

Zubarah Fort & Museum

The fort, now turned into a museum, acts as the main attraction for visitors to the Al Zubarah archaeological site. It is a pristine example of traditional Qatari craftsmanship and architecture. The fort’s design was intended to keep out more than just enemy forces as well; the one-metre-thick walls also provided protection from the heat, keeping the rooms cool from the intense summer sun. Zubarah Fort was used by the coast guard as a station until the mid1980s, when it was turned into a museum to display findings uncovered in the Al Zubarah archaeological site. The ground floor holds a pottery exhibition and other cultural and historic artefacts such as coins. Visitors can also climb to the second floor to find groups of firing holes angled at different directions, allowing the fort to defend itself from any angle. The first archaeological excavations were conducted in the 1950s by Danish and Qatari teams. As a result of studies conducted at the site, many of the artefacts are now part of the National Museum of Qatar’s permanent collection, and will be featured in the new museum that is anticipated to open in late 2014 or early 2015.

Visiting The Site

Al Zubarah is situated 100 km north-west of Doha, around 2 hours by car. The fort is open from 8am to 6pm and is closed on Fridays. Meanwhile, the archaeological site, a 10-minute drive from the fort, is open daily from 9am to 4.30pm. The new visitor centre is open to the public, is free of charge and features a photo exhibition displaying the surrounding excavation and detailing the history of the town. You can also find a temporary exhibition which features objects from Al Zubarah and other sites focusing on sea faring, pearl diving, trade and defence. Visitors can take a 30-minute guided walking tour through the site that visits buried neighbourhoods and excavation areas, including the palace and courtyard, and covers how the current site is being conserved. Along the route there are 15 information boards that detail the history of the site and its archaeological features, as well as the natural environment and the local flora.