Bab Abu Khokha

Bab Abu Khokha is one of the types of large and old doors that became famous in the Arabian Gulf countries. It is known for having a small door at the edge of the large door, used for entering and exiting without the need to open the entire door. The small door is called 'Khokha' in al-Ahsa Governorate, east of the Kingdom, and 'Farkha' in al-Qatif Governorate. The reason for its construction in this way is to preserve privacy and respect the private space of the household. This was among the most prominent social values of the fathers and grandfathers, reflected in local architecture. Craftsmen and architects carefully designed homes, doors, and windows to align with practical solutions that harmonized with the social concepts and values, which were evident in architectural details.

The construction details of Bab Abu Khokha door follow the same tools and building method as al-Mismari door. Its structure relies on the same manufacturing method, which includes a set of long wooden planks (darab) with (dawarib), fixed with large nails. The top of Bab Abu Khokha door is designed in a large semi-circle. This door is usually used in palaces, large buildings, and at the entrances of castles, as well as in some farms like date palm farms. It is also found in entrances leading to a large courtyard or open space and in the entrances of defensive walls surrounding cities. Aside from these uses, there was no need to use it for small houses, as the curved or hidden passages following the entrances ensured privacy for the inhabitants when opening the door.