Umm Al Quwain Fort & National Museum
Guarding the entrance to the historic old town of Umm Al Quwain, the Umm Al Quwain Fort (Al Ali Fort) is a quintessential 18th-century Arabian fortification. Erected in 1768 by Sheikh Rashid bin Majid Al Mualla, the founder of the modern emirate's ruling dynasty, the fort served as the sovereign seat of the rulers and the government center until 1969. Constructed of coral rock, beach stones, and gypsum mortar, the castle features two prominent defensive towers—one round and one square—flanked by high parapets with cannon emplacements overlooking both the sea and the desert approach. Today, the fort houses the Umm Al Quwain National Museum. Its most celebrated wing is dedicated to artifacts excavated from the nearby ancient city of Ed-Dur—one of the largest archaeological sites on the Persian Gulf coast, dating from the 1st century BCE to the 2nd century CE. Exhibits include gold funerary masks, imported Roman glassware, alabaster statues, and coins from the kingdom of Characene.
“An authentic 18th-century stone fortress guarding the old peninsula, showcasing rare treasures from the ancient Ed-Dur civilization.”
— Tourism Compass Heritage Committee