{{short description|19th century fort in the UAE}} {{Infobox ancient site |name = Sharjah Fort |native_name = Al Hisn Sharjah |alternate_name = Sharjah Fort |image = Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn).JPG |alt = |caption = Sharjah Fort from the front. The pole was used to flog criminals or stake them out as punishment |map_type = United Arab Emirates |map_alt = |map_size = |coordinates = {{coord|25|21|31|N|55|23|11|E|display=inline,title}} |location = |region =United Arab Emirates |type = Fortification |part_of = |length = |width = |area = |height = |builder =Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi |material = |built =1820 |abandoned =1970-1996 |epochs = 1820-Current |cultures = |dependency_of = |occupants = |event = |excavations = |archaeologists = |condition = |ownership = |management =Sharjah Museums |public_access =(Currently under renovation: September 2014) |website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> |notes = }}
'''Sharjah Fort''' (Al Hisn Sharjah) is a double story traditional rock, coral and adobe fortification in the centre of the city of [[Sharjah (emirate)|Sharjah]] in the [[United Arab Emirates|United Arab Emirates (UAE)]].
The fort was originally constructed in 1820 by the then Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh [[Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi]], following his accession to the [[General Maritime Treaty of 1820|1820 General Maritime Treaty]] with the British.<ref name=":72">{{Cite book |last=McNabb |first=Alexander |title=Children of the Seven Sands |publisher=Motivate Media Group |year=2025 |isbn=9781860635120 |location=Dubai |pages=185}}</ref> It was partially demolished in January 1970, the one remaining tower (called 'Kubs', that to the far right of the fort) lending its name to the square in which it sits, 'Al Burj', Arabic for 'tower'.<ref name=":0" />
The fort has been restored by the current Ruler as part of a comprehensive programme of ongoing restoration of the traditional core of the [[Port Khalid Sharjah|old port]] city of Sharjah under the name '[[Heart of Sharjah]]'.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/heritage/uae-15-year-restoration-project-in-sharjah-on-track|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140909104127/http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/heritage/uae-15-year-restoration-project-in-sharjah-on-track|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 9, 2014|title=15 year restoration project in Sharjah on track|last=Kakande|first=Yasin|date=Oct 1, 2012|work=The National|accessdate=2019-01-19}}</ref> The restoration of Sharjah Fort commenced in January 1996 and was completed in April 1997.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=McNabb |first=Alexander |title=Children of the Seven Sands |publisher=Motivate Media Group |year=2025 |isbn=9781860635120 |location=Dubai |pages=357}}</ref>
== History == [[File:Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn) - to the rear.JPG|thumb|upright|left|The rearward 'Al Kubs' tower was all that remained after the Fort's demolition in 1970. It has since been faithfully restored by the current Ruler of Sharjah]] Early British records of 1830 note Sharjah's fort located, "A little inland, mounting six pieces of cannon, together with some detached towers. In case of alarm from an enemy, it is stockaded round with date trees and wood sufficient for repelling the attack of Arabs although of little service against regular troops."<ref>{{Cite book|title = Islands and Maritime Boundaries of the Gulf 1798–1960|last = Schofield|first = R|publisher = Archive Editions|year = 1990|isbn = 978-1-85207-275-9|location = UK|pages = 544}}</ref>
The demolition of the fort took place in January 1970, when Sheikh [[Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi|Khalid bin Muhammad Al Qasimi]] wished to remove all trace of Sheikh [[Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi]], the previous Ruler. Told of the demolition while studying in Cairo, the current Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh [[Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi]] rushed home in an attempt to halt the move.<ref name=":7" /> Arriving too late to save most of the fort, he nevertheless persuaded his brother to cease the demolition. All that remained was a single tower called 'Kubs' but which would become known locally as the 'Burj'.<ref name=":0" />
Taking notes of the line of the remaining foundation and saving various fittings from the demolition site, Sheikh Sultan was able to restore the fort almost 20 years later with the original doors and windows saved from the demolished fort.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title = My early life|last = Al Qasimi|first = Sultan|publisher = Bloomsbury|year = 2011|isbn = 978-1-4088-1420-8|location = UK|pages = 262}}</ref>
Saqr bin Sultan – the man whose memory the demolition of the fort was intended to erase – returned to Sharjah in 1972 in an abortive coup attempt in which Sheikh Khalid bin Muhammad was killed.<ref name=":0" />
== Gallery == <gallery class="center"> Full View of Sharjah Fort.jpg Proclamation of Support for Sharjah.jpg Life in Sharjah.jpg The Sharjah Fort.jpg Ruling of Al Hisn.jpg A 1837's letter by Somalia Leaders.jpg Currencies and Pocket Watch of Al Qawasim.jpg Library of Sharjah Fort.jpg The Trial Process of Al Qawasim Rule.jpg Treaties of Al Qawasim.jpg Items of Making Medbasa 2.jpg Al Raggas - The Dancing Cannon.jpg Arabian Baghlah.jpg Merfa'a (Qur'an Holder).jpg Naval Cannon.jpg Process of Making Medbasa.jpg Items of Making Medbasa.jpg Generation of Al Qawasim.jpg Protection Level of Al Kebs Tower 2.jpg Al Kebs Tower.jpg The Well of Sharjah Fort.jpg Protection Level of Al Kebs Tower.jpg Building Materials of Sharjah Fort.jpg Al Ghurfah of Sharjah Fort.jpg Main View of Sharjah Fort 2.jpg Weapons Gallery of Sharjah Fort 5.jpg Weapons Gallery of Sharjah Fort 2.jpg Weapons Gallery of Sharjah Fort 3.jpg Weapons Gallery of Sharjah Fort 4.jpg </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Military installations established in the 1820s]] [[Category:Museums established in 1997]] [[Category:Museums in Sharjah (city)]] [[Category:City museums in the United Arab Emirates]] [[Category:History museums in the United Arab Emirates]] [[Category:National museums of the United Arab Emirates]] [[Category:Forts in the United Arab Emirates]] [[Category:Castles in the United Arab Emirates]] [[Category:History of the Emirate of Sharjah]] [[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1820]]