Ras Al Hadd Fort

"Ras Al Hadd Fort" is regarded as one of the tourist and historical landmarks in the Wilaya of Sur in particular and the South Al Sharqiyah Governorate in general. It lies in the nyabah of Ras Al Hadd, which is about 35 kilometres from the wilaya centre. The nyabah of Ras Al Hadd is distinguished as the first area on which the sun rises in the Arabian Peninsula, and it is the divide between the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea, where the fort lies on a high plateau overlooking the residential areas of this nyabah, as well as the main maritime sites for ships and the entrance of Khor Al Hajar, which extends from the Gulf of Oman. The fort was built in the period between 1560 and 1590 by all the tribes of the nyabah, and its construction took about 30 years. The fort's facilities consist of a citadel and two towers connected by the great wall; the width of the foundation is about 3 metres — a solid foundation that does not waver with the passage of time, built of plaster and stone. When you reach the fort you are met by the great gate, 2.5 metres wide and 3 metres tall; [the entrance hall is] connected, 3 metres wide, 11 metres long and 3 metres high, with wide benches on its two sides that were used for hosting the tribes from within and outside the nyabah, where dialogue and discussion took place between these tribes, the sheikhs and the people of sound judgement to solve the problems that occurred between them at that time. On the east side of Ras Al Hadd Fort you are met by an open room with a wide bench, 3 metres wide, 6.5 metres long and 3.5 metres high, which was used as a waiting hall, in addition to the (sabla) room, which was used for judging between disputants, this room being 3 metres wide, 4.25 metres long and 3.5 metres high; there is also another room that was used as a temporary prison, 3 metres wide, 5.25 metres long and 3.5 metres high. The fort's facilities also include the (masabba), found at the top of the fort's main gate, which was used for pouring hot oils, water and honey; there is also the western tower, a circular defensive tower that used to contain several cannons, whereas now it contains a single cannon. The fort's facilities also include a citadel, which is the last line of defence, 13.25 metres high and 13 metres wide, while the length is 16 metres, with a tower 7 metres in diameter. A tunnel pierces it, descending from the citadel for a distance of 8 metres, then twisting to the east and exiting the bounds of the eastern wall, extending about 500 metres; the depth of this tunnel is 3 metres, reaching a well of fresh water called the "Marfas" well, paved with stone and plaster (sarooj). The citadel also contains a number of cannons that fire into the courtyard (the fort's inner yard), or when the enemy enters through the gate if the front resistance weakens. The fort's roof is distinguished as being made of the sturdy teak wood imported from India (Malabar) and the black wood imported from Zanzibar (Mombasa), in addition to the carved wood, hollow on the inside, also imported from Zanzibar (bamboo wood). Saud bin Hamad Al Alawi, director of the Department of Tourism in the South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, explained, saying: the Ministry of Tourism has given the utmost attention and care to Ras Al Hadd Fort, alongside the other forts and tourist sites in the governorate, where this fort was restored in two phases: the first was in 1989 by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, and it was restored again in 2008 after the climatic storms, by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism. He added: Ras Al Hadd Fort is one of the important tourist attractions in the wilaya, opening its doors to the local and international tourist alike with all openness and generosity, to be a living witness to Oman's glorious history and its bright present, whose banner was carried by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said the Revered — may God protect and preserve him. Al Alawi affirmed that the Ministry of Tourism strives hard to develop the fort and prepare it to be a tourist attraction of a high standard, in coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and Culture and one of the leading companies in the wilaya, so that it may be restored anew, with some aesthetic touches added, to receive the largest number of visitors.