Constructed in 1932 by Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamdan Al Sharqi, the fort formed his principle residence for the following two decades.

[1] The village was traditionally settled by members of the Kunud tribe (In 1908, Lorimer described the village, which he named 'Hail' as being located 'inside the hills behind Fujairah' and consisting of 'around ten houses of Jalajilah and Kunud'),[2] with evidence that the area has been settled since the Umm Al Nar period, with Umm Al Nar tombs and Iron Age petroglyphs both found in the area.

[4] In 1932, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamdan Al Sharqi constructed the fortified house, a mosque, a majlis and the watchtower.

The buildings are all constructed of gabbro/dolerite rocks bound with a soft mud mortar and faced with plaster.

[1] The watchtower at Al Hayl was originally constructed as a residence for Sheikh Abdullah's younger brother, Suhail, who later moved to a house in the Wadi Furfar.