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Omani Fort of al-Khandaq

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HobWahid
HobWahid
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5 out of 5
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The Omani Fort of al-Khandaq

  • October 26, 2004
  • Rated 5 of 5 by HobWahid from Damascus, Syria
The Omani Fort of al-Khandaq

Located right across the border from al-Ain, the Omani town of Buraimi doesn’t have much to offer itself, but it is home to the very well-restored al-Khandaq Fort, probably the best example of an old desert fortress you are going to see while touring the UAE. Supposedly there are much better forts elsewhere in Oman, but this is the only one you will be able to see without actually touring Oman. In addition to the fort, Buraimi does actually have a small souq, which is worth a visit because it’s a good place to buy silver and khanjars, the curved daggers that are traditionally worn by Emirati men. Also, it’s worth a visit just so you can say that you have technically been to Oman, even though your passport won’t get stamped.

The actual border check is a few miles beyond the town of Buraimi, which means that you can visit the fort and the souq without technically leaving the UAE or entering Oman. For avid collectors of passport stamps, this can be annoying, but it is especially nice for those who have to pay for their visas.

The al-Khandaq Fort lies only a few hundred meters from the border, and you will doubtlessly see its intricately carved walls as soon as you cross the border. When I arrived, the parking lot was completely empty except for one small pick-up truck with an Omani man taking a nap in fully reclined seat. The entrance was open, but there was nobody to be found, so I just walked in. The fort has a set of outer walls and then a set of inner walls that protects the main courtyard. Inside the courtyard, you will find four towers, each of which you can enter and climb to the top by way of a ladder. Beware, though, of the one immediately to the right of the entrance; for some reason, this is the big pigeon hangout, and it is littered with pigeon droppings. The views from the tops of the towers are wonderful and give you a nice look at the lush oasis surrounding the town. Besides the towers, there are a few rooms inside the fort that you can enter, the most impressive being the majlis, where the leader of the fort received his guests.

All-in-all, I spent a good hour looking around the fort. It’s not particularly large, but I was enjoying the solitude and the wonderful views. The sun was starting to set, turning the stone and mud walls of the fort a beautiful red hue. Upon leaving, I noticed that the man in the truck had woken up and was waiting for me at a table near the entrance. When I asked what the fee was, he said that it was free and then provided me with a few maps and booklets on Oman in case I wanted to do some more traveling around the country. The visit was well worth it.

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