Al Ghub District |
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FORTIFICATION TOWERS
Possible Birthplace of Bin Majid It is well known that the famous 15th century Arab navigator Ahmed bin Majid was born in Julfar. For years archaeologists have been searching for the remains of the house in which this seaman lived or was born. The historical proof exists that Bin Majid lived in the district called Al Ghub, in a part locally known as Al Najdi. Interestingly, Al Najdi is also the last name of the famous explorer. Bin Majid’s full name was Ahmed bin Majid bin Mohammed Al Najdi.
The remains of two mud brick towers in the middle of Al Ghub, which will most certainly attract your attention once you visit this area, are considered to be a possible birthplace of Bin Majid. Archaeologists investigated these towers to discover several layers of mud brick and arish houses underneath. Although, the remnants that would match the times of Bin Majid were not unearthed as far, it is still widely believed that Al Ghub is the birthplace of Ahmed bin Majid.
What is known for certain is that those towers were part of a larger rectangular mud brick fortification. The construction dates back to the 18th and 19th century and was identified as a defence structure that protected surrounding palm gardens and their inhabitants, in Arabic called sur. Additional investigations brought yet another discovery, a 2m deep ditch that surrounded the vicinity of the fort. It was a unique discovery, as the combination of a fort with a surrounding defence structure was not seen before in the UAE.
STONE HOUSES
In the past, Al Ghub was a rich and fertile land with access to water, where many palm trees and crops were cultivated. Up to the 20th century, it was a popular retreat area, not only among the locals, but also for people from Sharjah and Dubai, who came here to escape the summer heat and cool down in the shadows of the palm gardens.The traces of arish and mud brick houses were identified but they had disappeared together with the famous palm gardens. Nowadays, only stone houses built by the wealthy survive to tell the story of the past.
These stone houses, although in a poor condition, are examples of the typical old residential complexes. Wind catches and open niches were designed to cool the air inside the houses. The northern position of the windows kept the sun out of the interior rooms. Most buildings had bathrooms and numerous storage niches that were also a part of decorations. In the middle of Al Ghub area, you can also see an old mosque. It is an early 20th century large construction built in the traditional way, with many decorative and, at the same time, functional features. It has a clearly visible mirhab (a praying niche) and no minarets. The size of the mosque additionally underlines the previous importance of this location when the palm gardens were vast and rich.
Further north, near the Julfar Road, there are the remains of yet another past structure that is an old fort. It was a 19th century structure built from stone and mortar and it is a typical example of compound that was used for defence and residential purposes. |
LOCATION: Al Ghub district, next to Shimal. Drive north along the Oman Rd towards Rams. You will pass the crossroad with Al Mamourah St and after 1.5km you will arrive at the last traffic lights on that road. From here, after 300m, you have to take the first turn right into Ghub St. Almost immediately you should see an open field with the remains of several houses on your left side in the distance. You can turn left into the dirt track, just where the field finishes, before the modern houses, around 600m from the main road. Leave your vehicle in a suitable spot and explore the area on foot.
GPS: Fortification: N25o48’ 43.43” E55o59’ 46.50” Example of a stone house: N25o48’ 52.47” E55o59’ 42.70” Old fort: N25o49’ 15.96” E55o59’ 52.99”
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