Al Hayla Tower

Al Hayla Tower lies in the area known as the Liwa oasis, in the emirate of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The Liwa oasis is in fact made up of several small oases forming an arch, stretched out over some 110 kilometers, on the northern edge of the Empty Quarter (the Rub' Al Khali Desert). The water of these oases was always a valuable commodity, so around the mid-19th and early 20th century, the local Bani Yas tribes started to built forts and watchtowers to protect their wells and to provide shelter from nomadic tribes roaming the desert.

There is no known history of Al Hayla Tower. If you know any specific history, please mail me.

The tower was built out of mud bricks. It is a small round tower that may have been part of a bigger fortification as you can see the offspring of two walls on its exterior.

At present there are, besides Al Hayla Tower, 8 other forts and towers still existing. Seven of them have completely been restored in recent years. These are Maria Al Gharbiyah Fort, Dhafeer Fort, Qutuf Fort, Muqib Tower, Mezairaa Fort, Attab Fort and Al Jabbana Fort. Umm Hosn Fort is still in ruins. Although a new reconstruction of Umm Hosn Fort has been built next to it. All fortifications are situated north of the Hameem-Arrada Road (the E90) that connects all the Liwa oases.

At present Al Hayla Tower is not accessible as it is situated in a private palm tree plantation. The tower is slowly crumbling away. Beautifully situated but not very interesting.

Gallery