Shanqal Fort, Medieval castle in Mecca Region, Saudi Arabia

Shanqal Fort is a ruined fort in the village of Al-Labt, east of the Turubah valley in the Mecca Region. Its walls, about 6 to 7 metres high, enclose roughly 3,000 square metres and are built with a lower half of stone and an upper half of mud brick. The single gate opens on the north side, and the interior holds about thirty rooms, including a courtroom, living quarters, a mosque, a prison and storerooms.

The fort was built around 300 years ago by Sheikh Rajah bin Manfour Al-Badri as a military stronghold for the region. It also functioned as an administrative and judicial center for the Bagum tribe during that period.

The fort's name has no fixed meaning: local explanations link Shanqal to a slope, to the fall of enemies around its walls, or to an open door, and some say the word is of Turkish origin once common in the Hejaz. Its sheikhs also issued customary rulings, including one fining neighbouring tribes a toll called al-Tawrada for entry to Turubah's market.

Visitors enter through a single gate on the northern side that provides access to the various interior spaces. The site sits on a mountainside, so wearing sturdy footwear is recommended for navigating the uneven terrain.

A smaller watchtower called Al-Murabba stands behind the main structure and was specifically built to provide surveillance and early warning during conflicts. This separate tower reveals how carefully the defensive system was originally designed.