Along Qatar’s northwestern shoreline, visit Al Zubarah Archaeological Site, a buried city with well-preserved structures from a pearl-fishing and trading port that thrived in the 1700s and 1800s. Travel here from Doha to see exhibits in Al Zubarah Fort representing the small fraction of the region that has already been excavated. Imagine the daily lives of the local residents centuries ago.
UNESCO added Al Zubarah to the World Heritage List in 2013, making it the first site in Qatar given this designation by the global organization. Begin your area tour in Al Zubarah Fort, which stands 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) from the coastline and serves as the site’s visitor center.
Learn about the region’s history. Centuries ago, nomadic people set up tents in this coastal area. Soon stone buildings formed the more permanent town of Al Zubarah, which was founded in the 1760s. Pearl diving and seafaring trade helped the area grow dramatically. Adjacent to Al Zubarah was the settlement of Qal’at Murair, set up to guard the water supply from city wells. In 1811, marauding enemies burned Al Zubarah to the ground. The town was only partially rebuilt and abandoned by the early 20th century.
The fort was built in 1938, when Qal’at Murair was also abandoned. Today the largely unexcavated town site covers 150 acres (60 hectares), with commercial buildings, Muslim mosques, a souq and everyday functional items and imported artifacts remaining buried. A wall with defensive towers encircled the town, whose population may have reached 9,000 people.
Over the years, drifting sands covered the abandoned buildings, providing protection from decay and ruin. Look for signs of excavation that began as early as the 1980s, including individual family homes built in a courtyard style.
While Al Zubarah is on the opposite side of the Qatar peninsula from Doha, a drive or taxi ride here takes less than 90 minutes. The visitor center is open daily. Check with Qatar Museums for information on access to the excavation areas. From the site, gaze west to glimpse the neighboring country of Bahrain across the waters of the Persian Gulf.