A fort for the founding era
Al-Qishlah Palace was built in Hail in 1941 on the order of the Founding King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. Raised in the Najdi style from clay, mud brick and stone, with gypsum decoration in geometric and plant motifs, it covers more than 19,000 m² over two floors.
It began life as military barracks and a fortress. Troops trained and paraded in the great central courtyard, which is ringed by arcades on stone columns and roofed with palm fronds and tamarisk trunks. The main gate opens on the east façade, a second on the south, and a mosque stands within the walls.
Hail around it
In 2017 the palace entered the first phase of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cultural Heritage Program. Today it is a landmark of Hail's tourism season and hosts cultural events.
Hail itself sits about 915 m above sea level and is home to about 498,575 people, according to the 2022 census. On a mountain south of the city stands A'arif Fort, believed to have been built in 1840, and beyond the city rise the mountains of Aja and Salma.