Al Koot Fort

The Al Koot Fort (الكوت فورت "Al Koot Fort"), most commonly known as the Doha Fort, is a historical military fortress located in the heart of Doha, the capital city and state of Qatar, that was built in the year 1927 by Sheikh Abdulla bin Qassim Al Thani, better known as Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, who governed Qatar from 1913 until 1949, after Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani, Sheikh Abdullah's brother, abdicated in favor of him. The fort was later on converted into a museum.

Qatari traditional handicrafts, products and photos of daily life with illustrations are housed in the fort. Exhibits and artworks include handicrafts, gypsum and wooden ornaments, fishing equipment and boats, historical photos and paintings including oil paintings of craft workers and daily life.

History
The Al Koot Fort was built in 1927 by Sheikh Abdulla bin Qassim Al Thani. It was originally built to serve as a police station in 1880 and afterwards used as a jail in 1906, although some sources prove that the Al Koot Fort was built by Sheikh Abdulla to protect the Souq Waqif from notorious thieves. The whole fort was subsequently renovated to a museum in 1978.

Geography
The Al Koot Fort is located in the Al Bidda neighborhood, in the midst of the famous Souq Waqif, near Doha Corniche, and is now a preferred landmark, museum and tourist spot, most especially for foreigners.