Al Ghayel Castle
Located in the village of Al-Ghail 4.5 km from the town of Kalba. It was built by Sheikh Saeed bin Hamad Al Qasimi, who ruled Kalba in the period (1903 - 1937 AD)
It is located on a rocky hill that is about 15 meters high. It looks like an island in the middle of the valleys, with its sides surrounded by low valleys and farms, and its southern and eastern sides overlook the Gulf coast.
The fort has a rectangular shape, 20 meters long and 15 meters wide. It was built of plaster and mud. It is considered a defensive fort for the land and sea borders.
Al Ghayel Castel (1920) by Sheikh Saeed bin Hamad Al QasimiThe National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates
The fort tower is located in its northwest corner, and overlooks through its windows and entrances to the four sides of the area. It connects with the castle wall to the north as part of the storeroom and kitchen wall, and to the south with the terrace wall, as an extension.
Al Ghayel Castel (1920) by Sheikh Saeed bin Hamad Al QasimiThe National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates
There are several stairs in the castle. An external staircase that connects to the tower, a staircase in the middle of the first floor of the tower, a ladder for external entrances, and a staircase for the terrace.
Al Ghayel Castel (1920) by Sheikh Saeed bin Hamad Al QasimiThe National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates
It contains two external entrances, the entrances to the room, the pin and the tower.
The fort has an estuary (ratchet)
Placed above the castle tower and is considered a defensive element. And there is a storeroom used for the guards and their special needs.
As well as another storehouse for storing dates, and inside it stapled with streams from which dripping molasses flowed from the dates, and it was considered as a general food for the guards.
The castle contains two iwans: eastern and western. Each iwan contains circular and square mandrels whose opening is not straight inside the wall, meaning they’re inclined towards the low valley. It helps the guards distribute sighting points and control the entire frontal area.
