Al-Sakhir Palace

Al-Sakhir Palace, also known as Sakhir Palace, is a palace in the Sakhir desert region of western Bahrain. The palace lies off the Zallaq Highway, northeast of the Bahrain International Circuit, the town of Zallaq and the University of Bahrain. It lies southwest of Sadad, Shahrakan and Dar Kulaib, the nearest town to the palace.

Al-Sakhir Palace
General information
TypePalace
Town or cityNortheast of Zellaq
CountryBahrain
Coordinates26°3′46″N 50°31′35″E
Completed1901

History

Built in 1870 or 1901 according to different sources,[1][2] it is one of the most eminent buildings in the country. The extensive complex was once the residence of the ruler of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad, who moved into the palace around 1925.[3] He was very fond of the palace and lived there with his wife Hosha and regularly invited prominent noblemen and political figures from the United Kingdom and elsewhere to dine at the palace.[3] However, the building was abandoned after his death at the palace in 1942, and remained locked and the windows shuttered for decades afterwards as a sign of respect.[4][5] For years the palace stood isolated, although after the discovery of oil in 1928 in Bahrain the island developed considerably in other areas.[2] Painter Christine Rollitt visited Bahrain in the 1970s and painted the palace in 1977.[2] Still vacant in 1983,[4] the palace underwent restoration to its former glory in the mid-1990s.[6] The palace is approached passing a camel farm along Highway 105.[4] Two kilometres from the palace, towards Zallaq, is an oil-pumping well which is decorated as a hoopoe bird.[4] The Arabian Gulf University was built near the palace around 1985.

Today the palace is used for some of the most honorable and important occasions in Bahrain. George W. Bush visited the palace on January 12, 2008, and received a welcoming sword ceremony in the courtyard to the palace and was presented with an award by Bahrain's king, Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. Bush's visit sparked off a demonstration outside the US Embassy in Manama, attracting some 300 people with placards such as "Bush is not welcome". On March 12, 2011 US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa met with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa at the palace. In April 2011 Bahrain honored Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah by giving him the historic Ajrab sword of Imam Turki bin Abdullah and the Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa Medal at ceremony at Al-Sakhir Palace.[7] Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa died at the palace in March 2009.

Architecture

Al-Sakhir Palace was the work of a specialist group of builders of the Ruyan group headed by Zar Hydar Banna, who were also responsible for the Shayak Khalaf al-Asfur house.[8] The palace is built in the traditional Islamic fashion, common in the Middle East, white, consisting mainly of grand arches and columns, a dome and an imposing minaret which towers above. The majlis of Al-Sakhir Palace is reportedly 40 feet (12 m) long.[9] Sheikh Hamad had also visited England for the first time, along with his wife, son and brother, to buy plumbing fixtures and furniture for his Sakhir Palace.[3]

References
  1. Kilner, Peter; Wallace, Jonathan (1978). The Gulf handbook. Trade & Travel Publications. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  2. "Prints". Christine Rollitt. Archived from the original on 2011-11-04. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  3. Brian Patrick Duggan; Terence Clark (February 2009). Saluki: the desert hound and the English travelers who brought it to the West. McFarland. pp. 172–173. ISBN 978-0-7864-3407-7. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  4. Whelan, John (April 1983). Bahrain: a MEED practical guide. Middle East Economic Digest. p. 170. ISBN 978-0-9505211-7-6. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  5. Hassall, S. (June 1985). Let's visit Bahrain. Burke Pub. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-222-01093-3. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  6. Who's who in Lebanon. Éditions Publitec. 1995. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  7. "King Abdullah to Bahrainis: We are one nation". Arab News. 19 April 2010. Archived from the original on 12 May 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  8. Madawi Al-Rasheed (2005). Transnational connections and the Arab Gulf. Psychology Press. pp. 50–. ISBN 978-0-415-33135-7. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  9. Clarke, Angela (1986). Bahrain, a heritage explored. MEED Books. ISBN 978-0-946510-30-6. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
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