Name of Monument:

Al-Zubarah

Location:

Al-Zubarah, Qatar

Responsible Institution:

The State of Qatar

 About Qatar Museums, Al-Zubarah

Date of Monument:

5th millennium BC; 18th century settlement; abandoned probably at the beginning of the 20th century

History:

Earliest human occupation near the site of al-Zubarah may date back as early as the Late Neolithic period (5th millennium BC). The ceramic assemblage recovered from al-Zubarah site itself is pointing to a possible Abbasid (8th – 9th century AD) occupation, prior to a Late Islamic village existing during the final period of the reign of Safavids in the upper Gulf region (18th century).

According to the current knowledge, the major development of the town took place after the arrival of the Utub-tribe in northern Qatar. Al-Zubarah flowered during the 2nd half of the 18th century AD and played an important political role until it was totally destroyed after a major attack of Omani led forces in 1811.

In a second phase of occupation after this event the city was considerably smaller. It never obtained the same importance than the 18th century settlement and by the beginning of the 20th century, the village was probably left abandoned.

Description:

The ruins of Al Zubarah are a traditionally well-known tourist destination in Qatar.

Recognized as an archaeological site as early as in the 1950es by a Danish led team of archaeologists, the first systematic archaeological excavations were conducted in 1983. Under the direction of the National Museum of Qatar, the Qatari team uncovered several structures in the northern part of the ruins. Later on, the attention was turned to what was identified as the suq area and the inner quarters.

Citation of this web page:

"Al-Zubarah" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2025.
https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monuments;AWE;qt;1;en

MWNF Working Number: QT 001