Dhayah Fort is the only surviving hilltop fort in the UAE, built on a roughly 70-metre hill in northern Ras Al Khaimah. It was the site of the final battle of the British campaign against the Qawasim clans in December 1819 — a three-day siege that ended on 22 December and led to the 1820 General Maritime Treaty.
Reaching the fort means climbing a steep, unlit staircase of over a hundred steps, so it's a daylight-only visit and not accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. Entry is reportedly free, but exact opening hours aren't officially published — check before you go.
The fort sits about 20km north of Ras Al Khaimah city, near the villages of Dhayah and Al Rams.
near Dhayah/Al Rams, northern Ras Al Khaimah · 25.884351, 56.060545
