Toward the northwest coast of Qatar, on the road between Al Zubarah and Madinat Al Shamal, lies an area of forts, traditional architecture and old villages that includes the fort at Al Rekayat. This was the most populated region of Qatar in the 18th and 19th centuries due to its proximity to the sea and Bahrain, a regional trade centre. The exact date of the construction of Al Rekayat is yet to be determined, but archaeological evidence suggests that it could go back to the mid-18th century, when nearby Al Zubarah was thriving.

Al Rekayat means ‘wells’ in Arabic, so it seems likely that the fort, like others, was built to protect water resources. Al Rekayat follows has three rectangular corner towers and one cylindrical tower. Narrow, windowless rooms can be found on three sides of the large central courtyard. The only entrance to the fort is located in the southern front wall. The fort was partially conserved in 1988 and underwent major conservation in 2021.