100 km south of Amman, not far from Qatrana

4th Century AD

Residents – FREE
Non-residents – FREE

YES

North 31° 23′ 24″
East 35° 58′ 9″

4/5

Qasr El-Al

Qasr el-Al, one of three Nabatean / Roman fortifications within the visual contact between them, is situated just 4km north of Qasr Bshir and like Qasr Abu el-Kharaq, was reused by the Roman army to secure the eastern desert border of  Arabia province.

Excavation of the site suggested it was occupied from Iron Age all through till our present time. A Nabatean inscription found at the Qasr points out at the fortress with stone enclosure was built during the Nabataean period. A cistern and water structure of kind were also found at the site.

Romans reinforced the fortress to use it as a watchtower but not much more information is available at the moment.

Qasr el-Al can be visited via Desert highway and a 4×4 or crossover vehicle is required to reach the site.

Qasr El-Al
Qasr El-Al
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Timeline of Qasr El-Al History

1st Century AD

Nabatean Period

The earliest occupation on the site may have been a fortress of Nabataean date, as suggested found inscription.
1st Century AD
4th Century AD

Roman Period

Romans reused the Nabatean fortification and used it as a watchtower along with Qasr Abu El-Kharaq.
4th Century AD
21st Century AD

Present Time

Today, the ruins of Qasr el-Al can be visited from the Desert highway.
21st Century AD

Nearby Attractions

Qasr Bshir (Castra Praetorii Mobeni) is one of the best-preserved Roman forts …
A short distance from Qasr Bshir stands the Nabatean / Roman tower of Abu El-Kharaq …

Qasr El-Al Reviews

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Map Legend

8000 – 4000 BC

3500 – 1200 BC

1200 – 539 BC

332 – 168 BC

168 BC – 106 AD

106 – 324 AD

324 – 636 AD

661 – 750 AD

1099 – 1263 AD

1250 – 1918 AD

8000 - 4000 BC
3500 - 1200 BC
1200 - 539 BC
332 - 168 BC
168 BC - 106 AD
106 - 324 AD
324 - 636 AD
661 - 750 AD
1099 - 1263 AD
1250 - 1918 AD

Neolithic Period

Bronze Age

Iron Age

Hellenistic Period

Nabatean Period

Roman Period

Byzantine Period

Umayyad Period

Crusades / Ayyubid Period

Mumluk / Ottoman Period