Manara Clock Tower, Ottoman clock tower in central Nablus, Palestine

The Manara Clock Tower is a square stone structure that rises above surrounding buildings in downtown Nablus with four clock faces positioned to be visible from multiple directions. The tower stands at a major crossroads where several streets converge.

The tower was built in 1901 under Ottoman sultan Abdul Hamid II to mark 25 years of his reign, one of seven such towers erected in Palestinian cities that year. Its south entrance bears a marble inscription dated 1318 AH (1901). Nablus's chief builder Ahmad al-Sarwan, who received an honorary medal from the sultan, oversaw construction. The tower was restored in 2012 by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency.

The tower marks the heart of Nablus where residents and merchants gather throughout the day. The surrounding streets host vendors selling everyday goods, making it a natural meeting spot for the community.

The tower sits at the center of Nablus where it functions as a key reference point for navigating the old city district. You can reach it easily on foot as it stands at a busy intersection in the heart of downtown.

The tower carries three names: Burj al-Sa'ah for the clock it holds, Burj al-Hamidiyya after Sultan Abdul Hamid II, and Burj al-Manara after the Manara quarter where it stands. A marble inscription at its southern entrance gives the date 1318 AH (1901).