Sharjah Fort, National museum and archaeological site in Heart of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Sharjah Fort is a two-storey square building with a large central courtyard and three defensive towers: Al Kubs, Al Muhalwasa and Murabba'at Musharraf. Its walls are of coral stone covered with light brown gypsum plaster, its doors are teak, and its ceilings rest on mangrove and palm trunks.

The fort was built in 1823 as a defense structure and royal residence for the ruling family. In 1997 it became a public museum so people could learn about the emirate's history.

The fort's Arabic name, Al Hisn, simply means "the fort"; its three towers carry their own names, Al Kubs, Al Muhalwasa and Murabba'at Musharraf. The ground floor holds the Qasimi Library, with books belonging to Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi and a desk and chair kept there.

The fort stands on Al Hisn Avenue in central Sharjah and is easy to reach on foot. Plan time to walk through all the galleries, and wear comfortable shoes since you will spend time standing and moving between rooms.

The main gate, made of thick teak and barred from inside with a latch and rod, dates to the fort's 1823 construction and was saved from demolition in 1969. In the outer courtyard stands the Ragsa cannon, the largest of the original guns, dating to about 1811 and linked to Qawasim victories.