About The Museum

Al Hisn was renovated in 1996, and reopened its doors in 2015.

Why visit the fort?

Step inside this historic landmark to learn about the modern history of Sharjah, the ruling family, the history of the fort, the historic defence strategies and Sharjah’s life 196 years ago.

Explore one of the most important heritage buildings in Sharjah’s history‎

Exploring the rooms of the fort, you can enjoy the large collection of photographs and archaeological artefacts, learn about the first jurisdiction system adopted in Sharjah in Al Muhalwasa jail, and learn how “dibs” (date syrup) was made in the past. Here, you can also discover the weapons and defence strategies used by the Sheikhs and their guards, as well as the lifestyle of the ruling family.
 
Located in the Heart of Sharjah, this wonderful edifice, built in 1823, was Sharjah’s government headquarters and the residence of the ruling Al Qasimi family.
 
The Fort is a square shaped construction, featuring a spacious yard in the middle. It consists of two main floors and three towers built for defensive purposes. When first built in 1823, it was considered the biggest and most important construction in Sharjah.
 
The Fort was built out of coral stones which were collected from the deep sea waters of the Arabian Gulf; the walls were covered with a light brown plaster, and the doors were made of teak wood, while the ceilings were constructed using mangrove trunks and “Al Duun” - branches of palm trees stripped off their leaves and fibers.
  
The Fort was built for defensive purposes, mainly to protect the city and residents. The main defensive elements included solid thick walls, high defensive walls and high watchtowers, along with many other defensive structures. The fort also served as the residence of the ruling Al Qasimi family, and was the headquarters of Sharjah government.