For centuries, Nakheel’s lush and fertile date palm gardens have been an essential source of food and water. Numerous people lived within the shady oasis, and visitors came during the summer to escape the unforgiving heat and humidity. The residents primarily lived in mud and palm frond huts known as areesh, whilst the local sheikh families preferred to occupy stone houses.
Hudaybah Tower was originally part of a larger community compound which has long since been demolished. The upgraded prestigious stone buildings contained a living room and reception room. They served as a defence for the entire compound.
The central tower has an attached room to its eastern wall. The staircase connects the reception room to the first floor, where the sheikh would entertain his visitors. The open platform on the roof was originally surrounded by crenellations and loopholes used for the compound’s defence. The lookout and machicoulis enhanced the fortifications.
The ground floor of the later addition of the attachment to the eastern wall was used as a store room, and on the first floor was the living room and bathroom accessed from the majlis. A veranda at the front of both buildings provided shade for the ground floor. Its roof, accessed from the majlis and living room, provided a sleeping platform for hot summer nights.
The larger compound’s tower, mosque and domestic buildings were restored a few years ago.