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Castles in Saudi Arabia

21 landmarks in the Castlemap atlas — every one mapped with a photo and its story, 8 with sourced founding dates, ranked by Wikipedia coverage and real readership.

The most famous castle in Saudi Arabia is Ajyad Fortress, ranked #690 of 7,738 in the world — followed by Masmak Fort and Palace of Yamamah.

The Castlemap atlas charts 9 castles, 6 fortresses, 2 palaces & châteaux and 4 ruins in Saudi Arabia. They span more than 4 centuries — from The Qishla of Jeddah (founded 1525) to Palace of Yamamah (1988). Every one is plotted with its photo and story on the interactive castle map of Saudi Arabia.

Map of castles in Saudi Arabia

The northernmost is Zabal Castle, the southernmost Ottoman Fort (Great Farasan Island) — about 1,480 km apart.

See them on the map →

When they were built

Of the 21 landmarks mapped in Saudi Arabia, 8 carry a sourced founding date. Most were founded in the 16th century — 4 of them. 4 were built after 1700.

All 21 castles in Saudi Arabia

Ajyad Fortress
Ruin · 18th century · #1 in Saudi Arabia
The Ajyad Fortress was an Ottoman citadel which stood on a hill overlooking the Grand Mosque of Mecca, in what is now Saudi Arabia.
Masmak Fort
Fortress · 19th century · #2 in Saudi Arabia
Al Masmak Palace, also called the Masmak Fortress or Masmak Fort, is a historic clay and mudbrick fort in the ad-Dirah neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi…
Palace of Yamamah
Palace & château · 20th century · #3 in Saudi Arabia
Al Yamamah Palace is the official workplace and residence of the King of Saudi Arabia and the seat of the royal court since 1988.
Murabba Palace
Palace & château · 20th century · #4 in Saudi Arabia
Murabba Palace is a historic palace in the al-Murabba neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, located in the King Abdulaziz Historical Center.
Tarout Castle
Ruin · 16th century · #5 in Saudi Arabia
Tarout Castle, also known as Tarut Palace, Tarut Fort, Portuguese Fort, is an archaeological site in Qatif, Saudi Arabia.
Qatif Castle
Castle · #6 in Saudi Arabia
Qal'at al-Qatif, also known as Hadaret Qatif, Qasbet Al-Qatif, Madenet Al-Qatef Al Mohasana, Al-Farda, or Al-Mahfouza, was an ancient fortress…
Qasr Ibrahim
Fortress · 16th century · #7 in Saudi Arabia
Qasr Ibrahim is a historic fort in the north of Alqoat neighborhood, Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.
Marid Castle
Castle · #8 in Saudi Arabia
Marid Castle is a historic military fortress located in the city of Dumat al-Jandal in the Al-Jawf region of Saudi Arabia, about 50 km from Sakaka.
Tabuk Castle
Castle · 16th century · #9 in Saudi Arabia
Tabuk Castle is a historic 16th-century castle located in Tabuk, the seat of Tabuk Province in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
Zabal Castle
Castle · #10 in Saudi Arabia
Zabal Castle is a castle in the north of the city of Sakaka in the Al-Jouf region in the north of Saudi Arabia.
Sahood Fort
Fortress · #11 in Saudi Arabia
Sahood Fort is situated outside the western walls of Al Mubarraz, Saudi Arabia. The fort is used as barracks for the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces.
The Qishla of Asfan
Castle · #12 in Saudi Arabia
Asfan Castle is a historical edifice in Asfan Village, 30 km North of both Jeddah and Mecca, Saudi Arabia, built in the eighteenth century -Exact…
Shanqal Fort
Ruin · #13 in Saudi Arabia
Shanqal Fort is a ruined fort near the city of Turubah, Saudi Arabia. The fort is located in the village of Al-Labt, to the east of Turubah valley…
The Qishla of Jeddah
Castle · 16th century · #14 in Saudi Arabia
The Qishla of Jeddah is a historical edifice in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, built in 1525 to be a military castle of the Ottoman army.
قلعة الدوسرية
Castle · #15 in Saudi Arabia
قلعة الدوسرية is an archaeological castle that sits on a mountain in the centre of the city of Jazan in the south of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
قلعة شعار
Castle · #16 in Saudi Arabia
قلعة شعار is an ancient castle located near Abha in the south of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Al-Mua'azam Fort
Fortress · #17 in Saudi Arabia
Al-Mua'azam Fort is a historic castle counted among the remains of the later Islamic eras.
Ottoman Fort (Great Farasan Island)
Fortress · #18 in Saudi Arabia
The Ottoman Fort is an archaeological castle located in the north of Farasan island, which belongs to the Jazan region in the south-west of the…
Muwaylih Castle
Castle · #19 in Saudi Arabia
Muwaylih Castle is a massive historic castle located near the Muwaylih centre belonging to the Duba governorate in the Tabuk region.
Zat ul Hajj Fort
Fortress · #20 in Saudi Arabia
The archaeological Zat ul Hajj Fort is a historic castle located in the village of Dhat al-Hajj in the Halat Ammar centre in the Tabuk region in the…
Uqdat al-Jeraisy
Ruin · #21 in Saudi Arabia
Uqdat al-Jeraisy is one of the archaeological castles in the town of Raghabah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Frequently asked questions

How many castles are in Saudi Arabia?

The Castlemap atlas maps 21 landmarks (9 castles · 6 fortresses · 2 palaces & châteaux · 4 ruins) in Saudi Arabia — a curated selection of well-documented landmarks from Wikidata, not a count of every fortification ever built.

What is the most famous castle in Saudi Arabia?

Ajyad Fortress, ranked #690 of 7,738 worldwide in the atlas's fame ranking, founded in the 18th century.

What is the oldest castle in Saudi Arabia?

The oldest dated landmark in the atlas in Saudi Arabia is The Qishla of Jeddah, founded 1525. Earlier structures may have existed — this is the oldest with a documented founding year.