ThePlace: Al-Muazzam Fort, one of the most impressive desert forts in Saudi Arabia

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The fort was established in 1031 A.H. (1622 A.D.) as a station for pilgrims and Umrah performers to rest. (SPA)
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The fort was established in 1031 A.H. (1622 A.D.) as a station for pilgrims and Umrah performers to rest. (SPA)
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The fort was established in 1031 A.H. (1622 A.D.) as a station for pilgrims and Umrah performers to rest. (SPA)
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The fort was established in 1031 A.H. (1622 A.D.) as a station for pilgrims and Umrah performers to rest. (SPA)
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Updated 03 April 2023
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ThePlace: Al-Muazzam Fort, one of the most impressive desert forts in Saudi Arabia

  • It includes the pond of Al-Muazzam and the Hijaz railway station

Al-Muazzam Fort in the Tabuk region typifies the detail of Islamic architecture and reflects the interest of the late Islamic eras in serving pilgrims on the Levant route.

The fort was established in 1031 A.H. (1622 A.D.) as a station for pilgrims and Umrah performers to rest. It also served as a headquarters for military barracks to secure the way to and from Madinah and Makkah.

Its total area is 10,000 square meters and its walls, which were built in a rectangular shape, store memories spanning more than four centuries. In the middle of the fort, a large yard  is surrounded by rooms, staircases and upper passages.

Refined stones were used to build the fort, which has two floors topped by a protective wall as high as the internal corridor. Its four facades have no windows except for small openings that were once used to defend the fort.

It includes the pond of Al-Muazzam and the Hijaz railway station. Reddish-yellow carved stone was used to construct the fort, which bears four foundation inscriptions.

Al-Muazzam Fort’s distinctive large entrance includes an arch and defensive openings.

The fort was visited by many well-known travelers and explorers, including Germany’s Julius Oetting in 1301 A.H. (1884 A.D.), who was accompanied by France’s Charles Huber. The trip was documented in the book “A Journey in the Arabian Peninsula.”

 


First Saudi State’s economy laid foundation for modern stability

Updated 23 February 2026
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First Saudi State’s economy laid foundation for modern stability

  • Revived commerce in Arabian Peninsula, according to historian
  • Diriyah highlighted as premier political and commercial center

RIYADH: The economy of the First Saudi State served as a fundamental pillar in building the nation, consolidating its influence, and ensuring its stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

The main features of this economy is outlined in the book “Diriyah: Origins and Development during the First Saudi State,” by Dr. Abdullah Al-Saleh Al-Othaimeen, the SPA reported.

The measures taken in those early days helped to ensure security, unify regions, and organize society. This assisted in stimulating trade, stabilizing markets, and enhancing life in Diriyah and surrounding areas.

 

Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. (SPA)

The book, published by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, outlines how these actions facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula.

Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. Its markets attracted merchants and students from across the region.

The local community relied on diverse activities including trade, agriculture, and livestock breeding, with horses and camels playing crucial roles in transportation, commerce, and securing roads.

Economic growth during this founding phase “solidified Diriyah’s position as a premier political and commercial center in the Arabian Peninsula,” the SPA reported