This place has long needed a cache because of its historical significance, but an extended period of restoration to the area prevented it...UNTIL NOW! YAY! First a brief history...
The one constant witness of Abu Dhabi’s story, Qasr Al Hosn, stands as a national monument that encapsulates the development of the city - from a settlement reliant on fishing and pearling in the 18th century to a modern global metropolis. It is the oldest and most significant building in Abu Dhabi, holding the city’s first permanent structure; the watchtower.
The seasonal movement of the Bani Yas tribe led to the discovery of natural water sources across an island, that would later become known as Abu Dhabi. With the islands rich natural resources and surrounding shallow waters Shake Dhiyab Bin Isa-Sheikh of the Bani Yas tribe from the inland Liwa Oasis-ordered for the watchtower to be constructed of coral and sea stone. Designed to naturally withstand the land’s harsh climates, as it overlooked and controlled coastal access to the island – whilst simultaneously protecting the burgeoning community that was growing around it.
1761 - 1795: The Origin of Abu Dhabi
With the island's rich natural resources and surrounding shallow waters, Sheikh Dhiyab Bin Isa – Sheikh of the Bani Yas tribe from the inland Liwa Oasis – ordered for the watchtower to be constructed of coral and sea stone. Designed to naturally withstand the land’s harsh climates, as it overlooked and controlled coastal access to the island – whilst simultaneously protecting the bourgeoning community that was growing around it.
1795 - 1850s: A Tower Becomes A Fortress
During his reign – between 1793 to 1816 - Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Dhiyab ordered the construction of more towers, which were linked to create an imposing defensive enclosure that commanded nearby shipping routes. It was during this time that the fort was used as his seat of government, military headquarters, as well as his family home.
1855 - 1909: A Commmunity Takes Shape
In 1855, Sheikh Zayed Bin Khalifa, also known as Zayed the Great, united the tribes of the region, determined to establish economic prosperity and to strengthen diplomatic relations abroad. With Qasr Al Hosn at the heart of the community, Abu Dhabi saw immense growth. Fishing remained a valuable industry for the city and by the late 1800s, the city commanded over 400 pearling boats – the largest number in the Gulf.
1928 - 1966: The Fort Expands
It was in 1939 that Qasr Al Hosn once again became the site of momentous economic change after Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Sultan Al Nahyan negotiated the country’s first oil concessions with Great Britain. Using a portion of the funds, he then built an iconic palace that enclosed the founding walls of the fort; tripling the size of the site. This palace instantly became a symbol of Abu Dhabi’s rising economy and growing prosperity.
1980s - 1990s: Today's Qasr Al Hosn Emerges
During this time, Qasr Al Hosn remained the heart of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s plans; with the fort serving as his family home, seat of governance for the new nation – ordering a full restoration for the Al Hosn site, with the intention to turn it into the city’s national archive and to encapsulate the historical developments of Abu Dhabi.
1990 - Present Day: Conserving a National Monument
Over the last decade, the white render covering the walls of Qasr Al Hosn trapped corrosive moisture on the surface of the original coral stone bricks. Following this discovery, an extensive 11-year conservation project was put into action to renovate the fort’s walls – allowing for the structure to ‘breathe’ and once again revealing the original foundation. It was transformed into a museum in 2018, with displays of artifacts and archival materials dating back as far as 6000 BC.
More Than a Just Monument
While you do not need to enter any structure to log the cache, I highly encourage you to tour the fort itself (entrance fee) if you have time. If you visit the cache site, you will find many other things to explore, including an architecturally stunning mosque (Musalla al Hosn), a serene shallow lake to stroll around, a coffee shop, eateries, the Cultural Foundation and the House of Artisans (showcasing and teaching the artistic craft heritage of the UAE).
Current timing and ticket info: https://qasralhosn.ae/en/plan-your-visit
TO LOG THIS CACHE
Simply go to the cache coordinates and submit a photo that must include ALL of the following:
- yourself FROM THESE COORDINATES (shots from other angles of the building are not accepted, face not required)
- the fort visible in the background
- a piece of paper showing your caching name
Information obtained from the Qasr Al Hosn website.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.