Al Jahili Fort was built in 1898 under the rule of Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nayhan (1855 – 1909). An adobe (mud brick) construction, it fulfilled a number of roles – as a residence for the ruling family when summer’s high temperatures and humidity dominated coastal areas, and a stronghold positioned to protect water resources, namely the oases .

Today the fort also houses a permanent exhibition dedicated to intrepid explorer and author, Wilfred Thesiger, who traversed and survived the harshness of the Empty Quarter and its desert wilderness.

Al Jahili Fort is likely to interest individuals who are looking to know more about late 19^th and early to mid-20^th Century history of the United Arab Emirates, and understand its connection to local cultures and the surrounding environment.