Al Zubarah Archaeological Site
الزبارة
Qatar's only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ruins of an 18th- and 19th-century Gulf pearl-trading town and a square fort.
Al Zubarah lies on Qatar's northwest coast, about 105 km by road from Doha. It was a thriving pearl-harvesting and trading port in the 18th and 19th centuries. The town was abandoned in the early 20th century, and it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. The site preserves the foundations of its city walls, harbor, houses and market. Beside it, the Al Zubarah Fort, built in 1938, has corner towers and a small exhibition on the pearl trade. Entry to the fort is free. There is no public transport to the site, so you need to drive or hire a car. A round trip with sightseeing takes about half a day. You can also visit the nearby abandoned villages, such as Al Jumayliyah, on the way.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–17:00 (check official website)
Nearby sights
- Brouq Nature Reserve & East-West/West-East
- Al Thakhira Mangroves
- Purple Island (Al Khor Island)
- Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum
- Barzan Towers & Umm Salal Mohammed Fort
- Lusail Stadium & Lusail City
- Place Vendôme Mall, Lusail
- Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art