Al Koot Fort
{{Short description|Fortress in Doha, Qatar}}
{{Infobox military structure
|name = Al Koot Fort
Doha Fort
|image = 300px
|caption = The fort in 2013
|nativename-a = قلعة الكوت
|type = Historical fort
|location = Near Souq Waqif, Doha, {{flag|Qatar}}
|map_type = Qatar
|pushpin_label_position = none
|coordinates = {{coord|25.2866|51.5309|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|map_size = 250
|built = 1880
|builder = Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani
|used = 1927–1977: police station, jail, military fort
1978–present: museum
|controlledby = 1938–present: {{flag|Qatar}}
|ownership = {{flag|Qatar}}i Government; Ministry of Tourism, Qatar Museums Authority
}}
Al Koot Fort, commonly known as the Doha Fort, is a historical military fortress located in the heart of Doha, Qatar's capital city. It was built in 1927 by Sheikh Abdulla bin Qassim Al Thani, better known as Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, who ruled Qatar from 1913 until 1949, after Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani, Sheikh Abdullah's brother, abdicated in favor of him.{{cite web|title=Historical Landmarks|url=http://qatar.hu/en/visit-qatar/culture/historical-landmarks|website=qatar.hu|accessdate=31 August 2015}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The fort was later converted into a museum.{{cite web|title=Forts :: Qatar Tourism Authority|url=http://www.qatartourism.gov.qa/pillars/index/1/culture/239|publisher=Qatartourism.gov.qa|accessdate=2012-11-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617201110/http://www.qatartourism.gov.qa/pillars/index/1/culture/239|archive-date=2012-06-17|url-status=dead}}
Qatari traditional handicrafts, products and photos of daily life with illustrations are housed in the fort. Exhibits and artworks include handicrafts, gypsum and wooden ornaments, fishing equipment and boats, historical photos and paintings including oil paintings of craft workers and daily life.{{cite web|title=Doha Fort (Koot) |url=http://www.qma.com.qa/en/cultural-a-heritage/forts-a-towers/towers/104-doha-fort-koot |publisher=Qatar Museums Authority |accessdate=2012-11-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113193000/http://qma.com.qa/en/cultural-a-heritage/forts-a-towers/towers/104-doha-fort-koot |archivedate=2012-11-13 }}
History
The Al Koot Fort was rebuilt in 1927 by Sheikh Abdulla bin Qassim Al Thani, after it was abandoned by the Ottomans. It was originally built to serve as a police station in 1880 and afterwards used as a jail in 1906, although some sources claim that the fort was built by Sheikh Abdulla to protect the Souq Waqif from notorious thieves. It was one of the most important forts during that time.
It was renovated in 1978.
Geography
The Al Koot Fort is located in the Al Bidda neighborhood, in the midst of the famous Souq Waqif, near Doha Corniche, and is now a landmark, museum and tourist spot, especially for foreigners.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://qatarvisitor.blogspot.com/2007/01/al-koot-fort.html Al Koot fort | Qatar Visitor - Travel Guide to Doha & Qatar]
{{Forts in Qatar}}