Masmak Fortress

Masmak is a square mud-brick and clay fort with round corner towers, begun in 1865 and completed in 1895 in what was then the walled town of Riyadh, and its significance is one night in January 1902, when Abdulaziz Al Saud and a small party entered the town and took the fort, the action from which the modern Saudi state is dated; a spearhead is still embedded in the main door. The fort now houses a museum on that period with photographs, maps, weapons and models of old Riyadh. It stands in the Deira district beside the old souq area, which has been redeveloped around it, and it is one of very few pre-modern buildings left in a city that has been almost entirely rebuilt.

History

Abdullah bin Faisal, Emir of Najd, began the fort in 1865, and it was completed in 1895 under the Rashidi rulers of the town, with four watchtowers and thick walls. Abdulaziz ibn Saud took it in January 1902, it was later used as a store until 1938, and after a restoration study of 1979 it became a museum in 1995 (Wikipedia, Al Masmak Palace).

What to look for

• The mud-brick fort - the square structure with its corner towers.
• The main door - the entrance with the spearhead in the wood.
• The museum - photographs and material on early twentieth-century Riyadh.
• The old quarter - the Deira district and souq around the fort.

When to go

November to March; Riyadh summers are extremely hot. The fort keeps daytime hours with a break, and closes on some days, so check before going. Mornings are quietest.

Good to know

The fort is small and the visit takes about an hour. Interpretation is largely in Arabic with some English. It closes over the midday break and on certain days. The surrounding area has been heavily redeveloped.

Nearby

Souq al-Zal is a short walk; the National Museum is north.

Key facts