Al-Koot District

Al-Koot District is a heritage neighborhood in al-Hufuf City, al-Ahsa Governorate, affiliated with the Eastern Province, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the governorate, and it was previously known as al-Koot Fortress because of a wall surrounding it.

Al-Koot District's buildings predominantly showcase traditional architecture, featuring clay, tree trunks, and palm fronds. A large portion of the area is in ruins, with wide vacant courtyards. The district also includes several modern buildings scattered among the older ones. Its notable heritage structures include parts of al-Qaisariyah Market, Ibrahim Palace, and Quba Mosque, along with several mosques such as al-Jabri Mosque and al-Dabs Mosque.

At the center of al-Koot District lies Abi Bakr Mosque, one of the oldest heritage mosques in the Eastern Province. The mosque was built about three hundred years ago in a distinctive architectural style. Several members of the Abi Bakr family, who belong to al-Mulla family, have served as its imams. It is located 390 m southwest of Ibrahim Palace and two hundred m east of al-Koot Cemetery.

Al-Koot District is the first neighborhood that the Sharqia Development Authority began redeveloping in 2021, as part of a plan to preserve, restore, and enhance historical neighborhoods in terms of urban, social, economic, security, and environmental aspects. Additionally, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (formerly) worked on restoring Ibrahim Palace, one of al-Koot District's landmarks, in 2019. The palace covers an area of approximately 16,900 m² and features two architectural styles: the Islamic style, evident in the semi-circular arches and Islamic domes of the palace, as well as the Mihrab of the mosque, and the military style, represented by the massive towers surrounding the palace.