Al Khandaq Fort

Al Khandaq takes its name from the ditch, khandaq, that surrounds it, a dry moat cut into the ground around a square mud-brick fort with round corner towers, built probably in the eighteenth century in the Buraimi oasis. The oasis straddles what is now the boundary with the Emirates, with Al Ain on the other side, and it was a place of consequence for its water and its position on routes between the coast and the interior. The fort was restored in the 1980s and has an open courtyard, rooms, a well and a walkway around the ramparts giving views over the surrounding date gardens and town. It is the main historic monument on the Omani side of the oasis.

What you actually see

• The dry moat - the ditch that gives the fort its name.
• Round corner towers - the mud-brick defensive works.
• The courtyard and rooms - the restored interior arrangement.
• The oasis - the date gardens around the fort.

When to go

October to March; Buraimi is extremely hot from April to September. Mornings are best. Daytime opening hours apply with Friday restrictions.

Honest expectations

Restoration is thorough and much of the fabric is modern. There is little interpretation inside. The visit takes about an hour. The border crossing to Al Ain has its own formalities that catch out travellers who assume it is open.

Nearby

The Emirati border is adjacent; Ibri lies southeast.