Sharjah Fort (1820) by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al QasimiThe National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates
This fort was built in 1820 AD during the rule of Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi (1803-1866 AD), and it remained the headquarters of the government.
Sharjah Fort (1820) by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al QasimiThe National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates
It is a large fortified building with three towers: Burj Al-Kess, Burj Al Mahlusa, and Burj Mishref Square. On the left side is a semi-dome that was used to guard and watch over the city in the past.
Sharjah Fort (1820) by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al QasimiThe National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates
The fort had an outer wall more than 4 meters high and 50 to 200 centimeters thick.
Sharjah Fort (1820) by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al QasimiThe National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates
It consists of two floors with many rooms and the front is a set of windows on two levels at the bottom and top. These windows were made of wood and copper bars.
The fort details
The fort was painted with Al-Noura white dye, and it was estimated to be about 1,000 square meters.
Raw materials were used in the construction of the fort, which are not entirely local, but some were imported from abroad. Local and foreign workers worked on the construction project.
The building materials are beim (coral stones), plaster, marine sand, Abu Musa pebbles, and a variety of woods, including jandal (from East Africa), sesam and meranti (from India), palm leaf, palm wicker and ropes.
Then a small wooden screen, behind which lies the gate of Al-Qasimiyah Library, and inside this library there is "Mukhtasar'', which is the Sheikh's private office. And we can access the gun locker after bypassing this library.
The fort has two gates. The first (main) gate is the Derwaza, which is made of precious Indian wood called sesam wood. It is 287 cm high and 182 cm wide.
This gate leads to the first section of the fortress and the first inner courtyard in which the ruler sits in front of the parish on the bench. On the western side is the detention room, and on the eastern side is another gate, “Al-Sabah”.
Al-Sabah gate is the gate of second section of the fort, and it leads to a small courtyard that leads to the Mahlusa Tower (ground floor), which is the prison. And then a narrow corridor leads to the (cafe) corner.
As for the towers of the fort, there is Burj Al-Kess, which is round with two sections, upper and lower, and is used for guarding.
Sharjah Fort (1820) by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al QasimiThe National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates
There is also a small, broken entrance obscured by a masonry covering called (the apostasy), which connects to the corridor of the arms locker and blocks the administrative sections of the fortress from the family residence.
Sharjah Fort (1820) by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al QasimiThe National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates
And then Burj Al-Mahlusa, which is the most unique of the towers in terms of architecture and engineering. It consists of three main floors, the ground floor of the prison, the first a headquarters for guarding and observation, and the second a headquarters for guarding the banner (the emirate's flag).
Sharjah Fort (1820) by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al QasimiThe National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates
And finally, the Square Tower overlooking the square. The ground floor was used as a living room, the first floor was a guard, watch and protection tower containing small copper cannons, and the second floor was used for observation and defense.
Sharjah Fort (1820) by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al QasimiThe National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates
The fort was removed in 1969, rebuilt in 1996 and opened in 1997. It was maintained and restored in 2013 and 2014.
Sharjah Fort (1820) by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al QasimiThe National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates
It has been divided as follows after its restoration: On the ground floor we find the detention room, the Mahlusa prison, the guards' weapons locker, the stapler, and the Qawasim hall, with the family tree of the Sheikhs al-Qawasim.
In addition to panels containing information about the common denominators and pictures of some notables of Sharjah.
Al-Hosn Hall
There is a hall called the Al-Hosn Hall, which includes several paintings on the history of Sharjah, the history of the fort, and the story of its demolition in 1969 and its reconstruction. And how Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi returned from Cairo to save what left of the fort.
