Qal'at Murair (also Qal'at Im Murair) (Arabic: قلعة مرير) is a ruined and deserted fortified castle located a mile and a half to the south eastern part of the town of Zubarah.[1]
Qal'at Murair was built by the Al Bin Ali, main and principal Utub tribe after their arrival to Zubarah from Kuwait.[2] It was built in attempt to thwart off challenges by the Al Musallam branch of the Bani Khalid, who ruled over most of Qatar.[3] They initiated the 1783 Utub invasion of Bahrain from the fort.[4]
This castle was built 1500 meters outside the town of Zubarah with a channel and four walls lying between the town and the fort as well as a cemetery some 2100 meters outside the town.[2] It was a fortified unit to oversee and protect the town from any invaders. Inside the fort was a masjid known as Murair Masjid as well a well two fathoms deep, and outside the fort there are five wells one fathom deep, and all of its water is fresh.[1]