Hili Tower

Hili Tower lies in the city of Al Ain, in the emirate of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The present twin cities of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates and Al Buraimi in Oman were originally a group of oases, separated by desert, centered in an area of some 24 km², just north of the Jebel Hafeet mountain. Originally the whole area was known as Al Buraimi Oasis. In the late 19th and early 20th century numerous forts and towers were built to solidify Abu Dhabi's control over the western oases and to protect the settlements and oases from roaming bandits.

In 1952 Saudi Arabia sent raiders to capture the Abu Dhabi forts and incorporate the oasis into the Saudi kingdom. Forces from the Trucial Oman Scouts, as well as the army of Muscat-Oman, arrived to recapture the oasis. With British intervention, the Saudi forces surrendered.

After the independence of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, Abu Dhabi and Oman agreed on final borders, dividing the oases. The Abu Dhabi part was then known as Al Ain and the Oman part as Al Buraimi. From then on Al Ain experienced rapid growth, quickly becoming larger and more successful than Al Buraimi. Nowadays Al Ain is a bustling city while Al Buraimi is more like a quiet town.

Hili Tower, on the internet often called Hili Fort, was probably built in the late 19th century. It protected the Al Hili Oasis, together with the nearby Al Hili Fort and Al Hili Towers. I could not find any historical information specifically pertaining to this tower. If you know anything, please mail me. The present structure is not original. It was built in recent years on the site of the original tower of which the ruin had to be removed due to its bad state of preservation.

The present Hili Tower consists of a large circular tower circled by defensive wall.

I don't know if the interior of Hili Tower can be visited, it was closed when I came by. A very nice tower of which I would have liked to see its interior.

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