Rising just high enough over the town to provide an elevated site for watchmen to protect the water supply, this tower is a reminder of Al Khor’s past.
Al Khor West Tower is one of three defensive towers on the north side of the city of Al Khor. It stands on a small hill not far from the Persian Gulf. Imagine being a lookout here watching toward the sea where pearl divers labored. They dove as deep as 100 feet (30 meters), gathering oysters with hopes they would find precious pearls inside.
Besides sounding an alarm in case pirates were seen approaching, these tower guards had another important duty. Look a few yards beyond the tower to see the Well of Ain Hleetan. This important water supply provided drinking water for the Al Mahanda tribe who settled in the area that would eventually become Al Khor. In ancient days, hunters noticed a spring here, a precious discovery in the desert of Qatar. They constructed the well about 150 years ago to provide better access to the water they called the “Doctor” because they felt it provided health benefits.
Settlers built the tower about 1900 to guard the well. It is about 13 feet (4 meters) in diameter and made of mud and stone, with walls that are nearly 2 feet (60 centimeters) thick. Watchmen climbed to the top of the 26-foot-tall (8-meter) walls using a rope. Gaze up and picture yourself fulfilling this role day after day to help ensure preservation of your community of family and friends.
Look for Al Khor East Tower and Al Khor Middle Tower in the area. With scarce resources in high demand and pirates and robbers often in the area looking to steal what they could, having these guard towers was vital for safety and survival.
Travel to Al Khor north of Doha on the eastern shoreline of Qatar in about 45 minutes by car or 90 minutes by bus. Al Khor West Tower and its middle and eastern counterparts are about 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) north of the city center.
