His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated on Sunday morning Fili Fort following restoration works and the revival of the area as part of the “Fili Heritage” project.
His Highness arrived at the Fili area via the new Fili Heritage Road, which was constructed to link Al Watan Road (E84) in Mleiha with Fili Fort in the Al Madam area, extending approximately 5.5 kilometres. This provides residents and visitors with easier access to their destinations, enhances traffic flow, and improves the efficiency of movement and transport in the area.
Upon his arrival, His Highness was received with performances by traditional folk troupes amid a warm welcome from local dignitaries. He then unveiled the commemorative plaque, marking the official reopening of the fort after its restoration.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah graciously received the certificate of registration of Fili Fort in 2024 on the Heritage List in the Islamic World of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO). This reflects the Emirate of Sharjah’s commitment to preserving, safeguarding, and sustaining its cultural heritage as an authentic part of the emirate’s and the United Arab Emirates’ civilisational identity.
His Highness toured the fort, which includes a defensive tower and multi-purpose rooms serving functions such as surveillance, storage, and reception, within an architectural system that combines security and social roles.
The fort contains a room narrating the story of caravan routes, where Fili emerged as a main station for rest and replenishment with water and food along the passage routes between the coast and the interior. Benefiting from its central location and the abundance of falaj water, it became a safe stop for trade caravans. The fort also displays a rare collection of copper coins dating back to the nineteenth century, along with distinctive archaeological finds such as a dallah lid and a coffee cup believed to date to the second half of the eighteenth century or the early nineteenth century, indicating the depth of commercial activity and daily life in the region.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah also visited Fili Falaj and its Sharia’t (water access point). The falaj is considered an integrated model of the Dawoodi falaj and one of the most prominent falaj systems, distinguished by high engineering precision and an effective ability to utilise groundwater sustainably. Fili Falaj relies on a network of long, gently sloping tunnels extending beneath the ground surface, which transport water from underground reservoirs to the surface.