In 1893, after sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani stopped paying taxes to the Ottomans as he felt they were trying to usurp control of the peninsula, they sent a contingent to confront him.
This culminated in the Battle of Al Wajbah, in which the Ottoman soldiers were defeated and were forced to retreat to Doha, about three hours away.
Drainage systems integrated into the fortress walls efficiently manage rainwater runoff.
Inside, nineteen rooms on the lower level and upper chambers within the towers once served various purposes, including housing, worship, and assembly.
Despite unauthorized modifications in the past, efforts in 1990 by the Museums and Archeology Department of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage restored the fortress to its original state, removing alterations and reinforcing structural integrity.