Al-Sakhir Palace
Encyclopedia
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 Gulf University
. It lies southwest of Sadad, Shahrakkan and Dar Kulaib, the nearest town to the palace.
and elsewhere to dine at the palace. 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.
For years the palace stood isolated, although after the discovery of oil in 1928 in Bahrain the island developed considerably in other areas. Painter Christine Rollitt visited Bahrain in the 1970s and painted the palace in 1977. Still vacant in 1983, the palace underwent restoration to its former glory in the mid 1990s. The palace is approached passing a camel
farm along Highway 105. Two kilometres from the palace, towards Zellaq, is an oil-pumping well
which is decorated as a hoopoe
bird. 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. Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa
died at the palace in March 2009.
ic 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 (12.2 m) long. 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.
Sakhir
Sakhir is a desert area located in the Kingdom of Bahrain, near Zallaq. It contains the Al-Sakhir Palace, built in 1870. In the past few years, it has seen many changes such as the creation of the University of Bahrain main campus, al-Areen Wildlife Park, and Bahrain International Circuit. In...
desert region of western Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. The palace lies off the Zallaq Highway, northeast of the Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain International Circuit
The Bahrain International Circuit is a motorsport venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing, GP2 and the annual Bahrain Grand Prix. The 2004 Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East. Since 2006, Australian V8 Supercar has been raced at the BIC and the V8 races are named as the Desert 400...
, the town of Zallaq
Zallaq
Al Zallaq is a village on the western coast of Bahrain.Al Zallaq was and still is home to the Al-Dawasir,AL-Zeabi and Algahtam tribe in Bahrain together with Al-Budayyi' and Juzur Hawar. It is famous for the Al Jazaer Beach . The Al Areen Wildlife Park is also near the Al Jazaer Beach in Zallaq...
and the Gulf University
Arabian Gulf University
Arabian Gulf University is a university in Al-Manāmah, Bahrain, accredited by the Ministry of Education, Bahrain, and governed by Gulf Cooperative Countries, and is a member of Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World....
. It lies southwest of Sadad, Shahrakkan and Dar Kulaib, the nearest town to the palace.
History
Built in 1870 or 1901 according to different sources, 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. 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 KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and elsewhere to dine at the palace. 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.
For years the palace stood isolated, although after the discovery of oil in 1928 in Bahrain the island developed considerably in other areas. Painter Christine Rollitt visited Bahrain in the 1970s and painted the palace in 1977. Still vacant in 1983, the palace underwent restoration to its former glory in the mid 1990s. The palace is approached passing a camel
Camel
A camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus, bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as humps on its back. There are two species of camels: the dromedary or Arabian camel has a single hump, and the bactrian has two humps. Dromedaries are native to the dry desert areas of West Asia,...
farm along Highway 105. Two kilometres from the palace, towards Zellaq, is an oil-pumping well
Oil well
An oil well is a general term for any boring through the earth's surface that is designed to find and acquire petroleum oil hydrocarbons. Usually some natural gas is produced along with the oil. A well that is designed to produce mainly or only gas may be termed a gas well.-History:The earliest...
which is decorated as a hoopoe
Hoopoe
The Hoopoe is a colourful bird that is found across Afro-Eurasia, notable for its distinctive 'crown' of feathers. It is the only extant species in the family Upupidae. One insular species, the Giant Hoopoe of Saint Helena, is extinct, and the Madagascar subspecies of the Hoopoe is sometimes...
bird. The Arabian Gulf University
Arabian Gulf University
Arabian Gulf University is a university in Al-Manāmah, Bahrain, accredited by the Ministry of Education, Bahrain, and governed by Gulf Cooperative Countries, and is a member of Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World....
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
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
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
Manama
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 155,000 people.Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population...
, attracting some 300 people with placards such as "Bush is not welcome". On March 12, 2011 US Defense Secretary Robert Gates
Robert Gates
Dr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
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
King Abdullah
-Current monarchs:*Abdullah of Saudi Arabia , regent of Saudi Arabia since 1999 and king since 2005*Abdullah II of Jordan , king of Jordan since 1999-Previous monarchs:*Abdullah I of Jordan , king of Transjordan...
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. Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa
Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa
HRH Sheikha Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa was a member of the Bahraini royal family. She was the Queen consort and widow of the former Emir of Bahrain, Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifah, who reigned from 1960 until his death in 1999...
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. The palace is built in the traditional IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic fashion, common in the Middle East, white, consisting mainly of grand arches and columns, a dome and an imposing minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
which towers above. The majlis
Majlis
' , is an Arabic term meaning "a place of sitting", used in the context of "council", to describe various types of special gatherings among common interest groups be it administrative, social or religious in countries with linguistic or cultural connections to Islamic countries...
of Al-Sakhir Palace is reportedly 40 feet (12.2 m) long. Sheikh Hamad had also visited England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for the first time, along with his wife, son and brother, to buy plumbing fixtures and furniture for his Sakhir Palace.