Kuwait Red Fort

The Red Fort at Al Jahra is a square mud-brick structure with corner towers built in the late 1890s under Sheikh Mubarak as a defensive post and rest house, and it takes its name from the reddish clay it was made of. It was the site of a battle in 1920 that is a fixed point in Kuwait's national story. The fort has been restored and holds a small display. It sits in the middle of what is now a large town.

History

Building began in 1897, a year after Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah became the seventh ruler of Kuwait, mainly to defend the farms of Al-Jahra (Wikipedia, Kuwait Red Fort).

What you'll find

• The mud-brick walls - the reddish clay construction the fort is named for.
• The corner towers - the defensive points at the angles.
• The 1890s building - a post built as both defence and rest house.
• The courtyard - the enclosed space with rooms around it.

When to go

November to March is the cool season. The fort keeps set hours and closes on some days. Summer heat makes the courtyard unpleasant.

What to expect

The restoration is extensive and much of what stands is rebuilt. The display inside is small and dated. An hour covers it.

Nearby

Al Jahra is around it, and Jahra Pool is north.

Key facts