Umm Al Quwain Fort
Umm Al Quwain Fort
4
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Umm Al Quwain Fort and nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
43 within 5 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.0
52 reviews
Excellent
19
Very good
24
Average
6
Poor
2
Terrible
1
70ava
Beijing, China1,009 contributions
Feb 2023
We did not expect much but were pleasantly surprised by this place. It is a fort which houses a museum, and it was well preserved. There are some interesting stories and artifacts but most of all it gives you a great understanding of how simple life was before oil was discovered. It stands as a sheer contrast to Dubai huge development. I would strongly recommend spending some time here.
Written 11 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Inam K
Islamabad, Pakistan582 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
Overseeing the old city and the port creek, the mud fort with rounded towers and tall walls house the small museum of the little Emirate of Umm Al-Quwain. The exhibits are just reflecting the local history and culture, especially the artifacts from the nearby archaeological site of Al-Dur.
Written 26 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bilge S
San Francisco, CA827 contributions
May 2012 • Friends
This place was the residence of the Sheikh of Umm AL Quwain.
It was also a fort and was protecting them from any outside attacks. There is even a small prison inside.
According to UAE locals Umm Al Quwainies were the most fighters amongst all Emirates.
Worth a visit, because not many historical things in UAE, also don't miss its museum.
There is an old fortification also close to it.
It was also a fort and was protecting them from any outside attacks. There is even a small prison inside.
According to UAE locals Umm Al Quwainies were the most fighters amongst all Emirates.
Worth a visit, because not many historical things in UAE, also don't miss its museum.
There is an old fortification also close to it.
Written 10 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wes H
Dubai, United Arab Emirates85 contributions
Mar 2020
Not often opened but was lucky one Saturday- no one else around. Well restored fort kept in good condition. Interesting history of feuds in UaQ.
Written 2 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sea Dweller
Dubai, United Arab Emirates6,966 contributions
Mar 2020
Umm Al Quwain Fort, sometimes also called Fort Al Ali, lies in the center of the city with the same name, in the emirate of Umm Al Quwain.
Umm Al Quwain Fort was built in 1786 by Sheikh Rashid I bin Majid Mu'alla. It had to protect the town and harbor and was used as the Sheikh's residence and a seat for his Government.
In 1929 the ruling Sheikh, Hamad bin Ibrahim Al Mu'alla, was shot by 2 of his cousins in the western tower in an attempt to take overpower. The people of Umm Al Quwain however were furious, and the cousins took shelter in the fort. Several notables decided that the best course of action was to destroy the fort with the use of a cannon. This failed when the cousins shot the people who were towing the cannon towards the fort. After that a moat was dug around the fort which was filled with palm leaves. These were set alight after which also the fort fell prey to the fire, killing the rebellious cousins.
Umm Al Quwain Fort kept its role as Sheikh's residence and seat of Government up until 1969. After that it turned into a police station. In 2000 it opened as a museum after a restoration.
The fort has a rectangular ground plan with one round corner tower and a larger round tower in the west wall.
At present Umm Al Quwain Fort houses the Umm Al Quwain National Museum which can be visited for a fee of 4 AED.
Nearby are the remains of the city wall of 1820.
Umm Al Quwain Fort was built in 1786 by Sheikh Rashid I bin Majid Mu'alla. It had to protect the town and harbor and was used as the Sheikh's residence and a seat for his Government.
In 1929 the ruling Sheikh, Hamad bin Ibrahim Al Mu'alla, was shot by 2 of his cousins in the western tower in an attempt to take overpower. The people of Umm Al Quwain however were furious, and the cousins took shelter in the fort. Several notables decided that the best course of action was to destroy the fort with the use of a cannon. This failed when the cousins shot the people who were towing the cannon towards the fort. After that a moat was dug around the fort which was filled with palm leaves. These were set alight after which also the fort fell prey to the fire, killing the rebellious cousins.
Umm Al Quwain Fort kept its role as Sheikh's residence and seat of Government up until 1969. After that it turned into a police station. In 2000 it opened as a museum after a restoration.
The fort has a rectangular ground plan with one round corner tower and a larger round tower in the west wall.
At present Umm Al Quwain Fort houses the Umm Al Quwain National Museum which can be visited for a fee of 4 AED.
Nearby are the remains of the city wall of 1820.
Written 12 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shell6257
Dubai, United Arab Emirates6 contributions
July 2019 • Couples
Interesting to see the progress of the Emirates in such a short space of time. Found this fort really interesting as it shows air conditioning as in the Olden days
Written 4 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nigel Gough
Malaga, Spain95 contributions
June 2019 • Couples
This visit was included on our hop on jhop off bus tour ticket. Interesting and well presented museum with much f the museum in AC controlled rooms which made walking around a pleasant experience..
Written 12 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Naviguesser50
Mesolongion, Greece95 contributions
Dec 2011 • Friends
Great little fort with welcoming and knowledgable staff. Definately worth a detour on a trip up the UAE coast. They may or may not be open over lunchtime, they were for us at 1pm and we were not charged despite an advertised cost of 4 AED. The tank out front was apparently the first purchased by the newly formed UAE 40 years ago. The fort itself was once the residence of the local ruler and one was murdered by his servant in the early part of the last century. The servant in turn was apparently burnt for his crime inside the fort.
The museum once housed in the rooms ranged around the walls has moved across the road and was closed for lunch when we were there.
The museum once housed in the rooms ranged around the walls has moved across the road and was closed for lunch when we were there.
Written 10 December 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rajesh K
Muscat, Oman154 contributions
May 2018
Dont miss this place if you happen to visit UAQ. Well maintained. You can see few unique things which are not presented in other musuems.
Written 30 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin F
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa14 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
The fort has been completely restored, although I'm not all together sure the rough cement slurry the walls have been coated with can be considered to be similar to the original. The exhibits are pretty good and potentially really interesting.
On the down side, very few of the exhibits have any relevant information posted and the English of those that do is horrendous. One example that comes to mind is pearly divers being referred to as 'plungers'. The grammar and syntax is so tortured that it often not at all possible to make head or tail of the information.
Another minor grumble - and one common to virtually all of the museums we visited in the UAE - is that they have numerous beautiful swords on display, but they are all sheathed. I would have loved to have been able to see the blades!
On the down side, very few of the exhibits have any relevant information posted and the English of those that do is horrendous. One example that comes to mind is pearly divers being referred to as 'plungers'. The grammar and syntax is so tortured that it often not at all possible to make head or tail of the information.
Another minor grumble - and one common to virtually all of the museums we visited in the UAE - is that they have numerous beautiful swords on display, but they are all sheathed. I would have loved to have been able to see the blades!
Written 12 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing