Qal'at al-Qatif (), also known as Hadaret Qatif, Qasbet Al-Qatif,"Qatif Al-Qafilah Magazine". qafilah.com. Archived from the original on 2017-11-02. Accessed on 2017-07-07. Madenet Al-Qatef Al Mohasana,Arab Anthropology; Al-Jishi, Mohammed Fouad: The House of Al-Jishi in the Fortified City of Qatif. Al-Farda, or Al-Mahfouza, was an ancient fortress located in the heart of Qatif, a city in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The castle's origins trace back to the third century, built by the Sassanids."Municipality of Qatif". www.qatifmb.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Accessed on 2017-07-05."Al-Watan Online ::: 18 dilapidated houses. The last remnants of Qatif's historic castle". www.alwatan.com.sa (in English). Archived from the original on 2018-01-13. Retrieved 2017-07-05."Spotlight on the History of Qalaa - Qatif Oasis". www.qatifoasis.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-14. Accessed on 2017-07-03."A glimpse of the monuments of the Eastern Province Al-Marsal". www.almrsal.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. Accessed on 2017-07-05."Municipality of Qatif". www.qatifmb.org. Archived from the original on 2017-01-16. Accessed on 2017-07-05. Later, in 1630 (1039 AH), the Ottoman Empire restored the castle, transforming it into a military base and strong point in the Persian Gulf. Over time, it also served as a warehouse for goods and a residential area.Al-Droura, Ali (2001). History of the Portuguese occupation of Qatif, 1251-2751 AD. Abu Dhabi: Cultural Complex. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Accessed on July 5, 2017
The fortress housed eleven mosques, along with a royal court palace, guesthouses, and livestock pens, all of which were enclosed by a formidable wall. However, in the 1980s, Qatif Castle was demolished as part of a development project, following the 1979 Qatif Uprising. The area was gradually cleared of its houses and buildings, turning it into a public square and parking lots, leaving only 18 dilapidated structures. www.alwahamag.com. Archived from the on 2017-08-13. Accessed on 2017-08-13.
Qatif Castle was oval-shaped, with an impregnable stone wall surrounding a densely populated residential district.Al-Mulla, Abdul Rahman (2002). History of the Ayyuni Emirate in Eastern Arabia. Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Prize for Poetic Creativity Foundation. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Accessed on July 8, 2017Al-Musallam, Muhammad (August 18, 1960). The Black Gold Coast: A Humanistic Historical Study of the Arabian Gulf Region (2nd ed.). Bahrain: Dar Al-Hayat Library. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Accessed on July 6, 2017. British historian John Lorimer estimated the castle's dimensions at 365 meters on its eastern and western sides and 275 meters on its northern and southern sides. He also estimated its population to be around 5,000 people, with about 300 shops within its markets. The castle was surrounded by a deep trench,Abul Fida, Ismail (1840 A.D.). Almanac of countries. Beirut: Dar Sadr. Pp. 99. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Accessed on July 5, 2017. orchards, and farms, connecting it to the wider oasis of Qatif.
Etymology Qatif Castle derives its name from its central geographical location within the city of Qatif. Historically, it was the principal city of the region. The castle has been referred to by various names throughout its history, including Al-Qatif, Al-Qalaa, Al-Farda, Al-Mahfouz, and Madenet Al-Qatef Al Mohasana. It is also commonly called Qasbet Al-Qatif.
After the establishment of the castle as the seat of the emirate and governance for the Qatif region, the name was simplified to Qatif.Al-Salham, Hussein Hassan Makki (2017). Pre-Islamic Qatif (1st ed.). Qatif, Saudi Arabia. Some historians and local residents also refer to it as Al-Mahfouzah, a name derived from the date of the wall's reconstruction, completed in 1039 AH (1630). The Arabic alphabet was used to represent the number 1039, which corresponds to the word "Mahfouzah."
The term Madenet Al-Qatef Al Mohasana was used to describe the area due to its population density and commercial activity. Another name, Faradah, is believed to have originated from the village of Faradh in Bahrain, associated with the Bani Amer bin Al-Harith bin Al-Qais tribe. This name was widely used in sales and trade documents by the people of Faradah, the residents of Qatif Castle.
The castle was known as Jibaro or Jippro in Latin documentation. This name persisted until more recent times when the site became more commonly referred to as Qatif Castle.
Geography Qatif Castle was situated on a high hill, surrounded by residential areas and water sources. Historically, the oasis of Qatif was encircled by palm trees and farms along the shore parallel to the oasis. Although located on the eastern side near the sea,Al-Musallam, Mohammed (2002). Oasis on the banks of the Gulf: Qatif. Qatif: Al-Rida Press. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Accessed on July 6, 2017. the tide did not reach the oasis except during periods of high tide in the middle and late phases of the lunar month.
The hilly terrain of the area presented challenges when digging wells within the castle. Workers had to cut through rock and remove sand to access water, a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. The wells within the citadel ranged in depth from five to eight meters from the surface to the groundwater.
The site of the former Qatif Castle is now situated from the area of Zurayb to the extension of King Abdulaziz Street, extending to the Qatif Governorate Municipality and the fish market, reaching the intersection near the post and telegraph office."Abu al-Lirat narrates Qatif's ancient history with models and photos - Al-Khat e-Line - Qatif News Today". www.alqhat.com (bar-sa). Archived from the original on 2018-06-13. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
Castle scheme
General design
Qatif Castle was an oval-shaped fortress, surrounded by an impregnable stone wall that enclosed a densely populated residential area. The castle was bordered by a deep trench and numerous orchards on all sides except the seaward side. These orchards, known as Dawali, were irrigated from the Toubi Seyha.
The markets within the castle, estimated by Wimmer to consist of around 300 shops, began at Darwaza al-Souq and ended near al-Dababiya, an area now part of King Abdulaziz Street. The market was a roofed, gable-shaped path flanked by two rows of stores, extending from the intersection of Schools Street to Jaafar Al-Khatti Street, before turning west along the same street. The market area, historically referred to as the Freedom Market, concluded at a large gate that remained open during the day and was closed at night. The market stretch also included the site where Zain Al-Abidin Primary School currently stands.
The royal palaces within Qatif Castle were located in a mountainous area at the center of the citadel, which historically served as the seat of government. To the southwest were the hospitality palaces and the remaining suburban areas of the citadel, collectively referred to as the Khan's Lane.Al-Otaibi, Maryam (February, 2012). Al-Ahsa and Qatif during the Second Saudi State (1st ed.). Lebanon: Tables for Publishing and Distribution. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Accessed on July 7, 2017. The Khan's neighborhood and cattle sheds were positioned between the northern and southern parts of the Zarib neighborhood.
The royal court was surrounded by extensive gardens and vineyards, which began at the Karidi stream, adjacent to the Minaret Mosque, and extended northward to the Warash district.
Tower
Qatif Castle featured 11 round towers located at each corner and protruding between the walls and corners of the structure. Each tower was equipped with rooms, restrooms, and service shops. A two-meter-wide bridge along the top of the wall connected the towers, allowing guards to move between them, often patrolling on horseback during the night for surveillance and security.
Despite the presence of 11 towers, historical records from the Portuguese era described Qatif as a fortified city with seven towers.
Fences The citadel wall of Qatif Castle is a formidable structure constructed from rocks and stones, reinforced with burnt stucco on a broad base of stucco and bricks. The wall reaches a height of approximately 10 meters and was designed to protect the citadel from attacks and raids. It was last reconstructed during the reign of Sultan Selim II on the first day of Muharram in 968 AH (September 1560 CE) and underwent further renovations during the governorship of Ali Pasha in 1039 AH (1630 CE).
The thickness of the wall varies along its length, with the eastern side measuring about 13 feet thick, while some sections Fluctuation to as little as 7 feet. In the late 1960s to early 1970s, the wall was gradually dismantled by the municipality, citing the need to accommodate increased security, population growth, and urban expansion beyond the old city limits.
Gates Qatif Castle is protected by four substantial iron-armored gates, known locally as darwazas. Each gate is staffed by a guard responsible for securing the entrance after Isha prayer and for opening it at dawn during times of peace."Kashta photographers document Zarib in photographs. Al-Gharyafi reviews its history - Juhayna News". xn--ogbf2fdp.net. Archived from the original on 2020-01-03. Accessed on 2017-07-08.
Among these gates, the eastern gate, Darwazat al-Bahr, serves as the sole access point to the port, which lies to the east of the citadel. The western gate, Darwazat north gate, connects the citadel to the Qatif oasis and the surrounding countryside, positioned between the Al-Khan and Zur neighborhoods. The north gate neighborhood is located just past Ayb, while the market gate to the south of the citadel serves as the main entrance to the market, which is situated immediately beyond this gate.
The fourth gate, located on the northeast side of the fortress, connects it to a small fort adjacent to it from the north, providing access to Al-Kut.
Mast The structure was mounted on the interior wall of Qatif Castle at a height of approximately 2.5 meters and a width of two meters. It connected the towers and was equipped with openings for observation and rifle firing. During enemy attacks, defenders would use this vantage point to fire upon the attackers, forcing them to retreat under a barrage of gunfire.
Neighborhoods
Qatif Castle was historically divided into four distinct neighborhoods: Al-Khan (southwest), Al-Zurayb (northwest), Al-Warsh (northeast), and Al-Sidra (southeast). These areas were connected by narrow roads and dark alleys, with Al-Dhulami's alley in Al-Zurayb being the most prominent. Before the removal of the citadel wall, the castle was also surrounded by several other neighborhoods, including Al-Sharia, Bab Al-Shamal (the north gate), Al-Kuwaikib, Al-Madaris, Al-Dababiya, Al-Jarari, Al-Shuwaika, and Mias.
Following the demolition of the castle wall by the municipality in the late 1960s to early 1970s, new neighborhoods were established, such as Al-Bustan, Bab Al-Sab, Al-Madani, Al-Masoudiya, Umm Al-Hazm, and Al-Bahr, alongside the existing neighborhoods that once surrounded the citadel. The cultivated area of the former Qatif Citadel extended from Darwaza al-Souq to Mawrd al-Kraidi and Mahalla al-Warash. However, the orchards that once surrounded the castle and its surroundings have since been redeveloped into residential neighborhoods. For instance, the orchards adjacent to the market, such as Dabikha and Dalia, have been transformed into markets and commercial centers.
Al-Khan neighborhood