Mamluk Castle | Aqaba

Information

Landmark: Mamluk Castle
City: Aqaba
Country: Jordan
Continent: Asia

Mamluk Castle, Aqaba, Jordan, Asia

Aqaba-fort_aqaba" class="underline">Aqaba Fort, also known as Mamluk Castle, is a 16th-century stone fortification situated on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba in southern Jordan. It served as a military outpost and a strategic stop for pilgrims traveling to Mecca along the Red Sea route.

Visual Characteristics

The fortress is a square-plan limestone and granite structure with thick defensive walls and semi-circular corner towers. The entrance features a prominent arched gateway with an overhead machicolation for dropping projectiles. The interior consists of a two-story arrangement of vaulted stone rooms surrounding a central open-air courtyard.

Location & Access Logistics

The site is located on King Hussein Street, approximately 1.5km from the Aqaba city center. It is accessible via the main coastal road; pedestrian access is available from the waterfront promenade. Taxis are the primary transit method for non-pedestrians, and a public parking lot is situated immediately south of the site at the Great Arab Revolt Plaza.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The current structure was rebuilt by the Mamluk Sultan Qansuh al-Ghawri in 1517 on the foundations of earlier Crusader and Ayyubid fortifications. It was utilized by the Ottoman Empire until 1917, when it was heavily damaged by naval bombardment during the Arab Revolt.

Key Highlights & Activities

Visitors can access the interior courtyard and climb to the upper levels to view the remaining architectural details of the barracks and storage rooms. The site provides vantage points for observing the 130-meter-tall Aqaba Flagpole. Guided exploration typically takes 30 to 45 minutes.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The site lacks internal climate control or shaded areas in the courtyard. Restrooms are located across the street in the adjacent plaza. Full 5G cellular coverage is available throughout the fort. Food and beverage services are concentrated in the commercial strip 200 meters north of the entrance.

Best Time to Visit

The fort is best visited between October and April when temperatures are moderate. Photography is most effective during the "golden hour" shortly before sunset, as the west-facing entrance and the nearby flagpole are illuminated by the sun setting over the Sinai mountains.

Facts & Legends

The castle's gatehouse still bears the royal crest of the Hashemite family, added after the Great Arab Revolt. A persistent local historical detail notes that the 1917 capture of the fort was achieved by a landward camel charge across the desert, bypassing the Ottoman cannons which were fixed toward the sea.