A STRATEGIC

Defence location

Al Hayl Fort is considered one of the strong and strategically important fortresses in the Emirate of Fujairah, overlooking several routes leading to the city.
The fort was built in Al Hayl Village on the western bank of Wadi Al Hayl, atop a mountain rising approximately 40 meters above the valley floor. The mountain later became known as “Fort Mountain.”
Al Hayl Village is located about 13 kilometers southwest of Fujairah City, and the fort is believed to date back to the 19th century AD.
After the original fort deteriorated, Al Hayl Watchtower was constructed on a hill approximately 15 meters above ground level. The watchtower consists of two floors, and its rooftop was dedicated to surveillance and defense through openings, firing slots, and defensive parapets (Tarabeech). The watchtower is distinguished by its clear panoramic view over the surrounding area.
Gravel, burnt clay, wooden beams, and palm fronds were used in the construction of the watchtower, while durable mangrove wood was used for the roofing.
Near Al Hayl Watchtower, the late Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamdan Al Sharqi built a large private residence consisting of a two-storey tower house, storage rooms, living quarters, a kitchen, internal majlis areas, two external majlis areas, and a private mosque serving the village. The residence was surrounded by a fortified wall containing openings for archers.
Between 2006 and 2008, the Department of Heritage and Antiquities carried out restoration work on Al Hayl Watchtower and several surrounding archaeological sites using the same traditional materials originally used in their construction.