Aqeer Castle - Eastern Province

Located on the Uqair beach, 70 km northeast of the oasis of Al-Hasa, Aqeer castle is an ancient fort of Islamic origin in Saudi Arabia. It is still unknown how old the fort actually is. Some people have linked the fort to the ancient city of Gerrha, which was mentioned in Greek and Roman sources.

History and Architecture

The fort is estimated to be at least 300 years old, and it is unclear who actually built it, but it is most popularly known to have hosted King Abdul Aziz when he came to conquer what we now know as Saudi Arabia. Inside the castle, giant pillars stand in the courtyard on one side, with small rooms built on the other. 

The fort is fortified by a stone rampart which is topped with mud bricks. It has arched entrances, large and narrow wooden windows, and vaulted stone floors. There is also a market from the Ottoman era adjacent to the fort, whereas to the opposite of the fort are remnants of an ancient seaport which is believed to be one of the very first seaports in the Arabian peninsula