Al-Ayjah Lighthouse and Castle in the city of Sur in the Sultanate of Oman

The sprawling city of Tyre has been described as "the pearl of Oman's eastern coast" and one of its majestic structures is the lighthouse of Al Aijah, which signals to seafarers that they are approaching an ancient and historic city whose origin dates back nearly hundreds of years.

I once stood in front of this gigantic building contemplating the beauty of the city of Tyre from this view, and I can only wonder: what is the historical significance of its location? And why was this necessary? The more I contemplate his beauty, the more I want to know more about his story.

About the beautiful coastal city of Tyre

Also known as Oman, Sur is one of Oman's oldest cities, and was presented as a meeting point across the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Sea of Oman, and played a vital role in forming a trade bridge between the Arabian Peninsula, India, Southeast Asia and the African continent.

The port of Tyre is one of the oldest ports in the world

The port of Tyre, one of the oldest in the world, played a very important role in shaping trade with more than one hundred and fifty sailing ships per day during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Location of Manarat Al-Ayjah

The location of the lighthouse is strategic, geographically, its height makes it visible from the sea, and alerting ships and naval fleets to enter an ancient port, whatever it is on the global maritime map, and the lighthouse of Al-Aija is located in the Ras Al-Mil area extending on the coast of the state of Sur overlooking the Arabian Sea and the Sea of Oman, and Ras Al-Mil is a local name that means the head of the ship, as its shape resembles the bow of the ship, and ships enter through Khor Al-Battah, and due to the narrowness of the creek, the lighthouse of Al-Aija provides important assistance that helps to sail in the water Soundly.

Al-Ayjah Lighthouse in the past

In the past, the lighthouse of Al-Ayja was very different from what we see today. It was simply a structure surrounded by a semicircular wall "whose purpose was to protect and defend the entrance to the creek and the surrounding area. The walls also contained strategic windows on which cannons and gun barrels were installed, but only three of these cannons remain to date, and the vicinity of the lighthouse is locally called "Al-Jila", which means to the locals "the place high from the water", and although the locals call it this name, this is unknown to many people.

Historical researcher Sheikh Hamoud bin Hamad al-Ghailani said that the simple protective fences in al-Jilah were up to 130 cm.

"Some people attribute the construction of the lighthouse to the Portuguese, but this information is incorrect, as during the period of the Portuguese invasion Al-Aija was not inhabited," he said.

The lighthouse of Al-Ayjah in the Renaissance

In the Renaissance in the early nineties and early second millennium, the simple form of the lighthouse was handed over to the Diwan of Royal Court, and at that time His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, may God have mercy on him, ordered the construction of the lighthouse in 1996 coinciding with His Majesty's celebration of the National Day in Sur, and during this renovation, other areas were added to the lighthouse and the designs were improved with the walls built properly and lifted from sea level. This development eventually led to the structure of the Al Ayjah lighthouse we see today including the addition of the night lighthouse. Once the project was completed, it was eventually named Manarat Al Eija.

Parts of Al-Ayjah Lighthouse

Today, the lighthouse consists of three floors and a vaulted ceiling, and its door has inscriptions that indicate the beauty of traditional Omani architecture.

There are still a lot of things to discover about the generation, but so far, the things I've learned have proven the long history of the place and lighthouse. At night, with its twinkling light, the lighthouse reminds passers-by that they are in one of Amman's most beautiful coastal cities – the city of Tyre that continues to grow and fascinate.

Historic Al Eija Castle

Al-Aijah Fort is one of the historical monuments located in the center of the coastal village of Al-Ayjah, surrounded by houses on all sides, and was built in the form of a square in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries during the reign of Sayyid Faisal bin Turki, and was built by Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Hamouda.

Parts of Al-Ayjah Castle

The fort consists of two floors, has one entrance and four towers, and contains some collectibles, such as swords, guns and heritage cannons. It was previously used to defend the village and for housing, but now it is used for tourism, and was restored by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, and used clay, gravel and plaster in its construction.