The Qu'aiti Sultan Palace () is a historical palace located in

Mukalla Mukalla, officially the Mukalla City District, is a seaport and the capital city district of Yemen's largest governorate, Hadhramaut Governorate, Hadhramaut. The city is in the South Arabia, southern part of the Arabian Peninsula on the Gulf of A ...

, Yemen. It was built in 1925 under the rule of sultan

Ghalib bin Awadh al-Qu'aiti Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan (27 December 179715 February 1869), commonly known as Mirza Ghalib, was an Indian poet. Widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in the Urdu language, he also produced a significant body of work in Persian. Ghali ...

and it served as the residence of every ruling Sultan of the

Qu'aiti Sultanate Qu'aiti, '), officially the Qu'aiti State of Shihr and Mukalla ( or the Sultanate of Shihr and Mukalla, ' was a sultanate in the Hadhramaut region of the South Arabia, southern Arabian Peninsula, in what is now Yemen. Its capital was Mukalla, ...

since.

History

The construction of the Palace began in 1925 under the patronage of

Sultan Ghalib bin Awadh Al-Qu'aiti Sultan (; ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used ...

. The palace was designed to showcase the architectural styles influenced by Islamic, Ottoman, and British colonial elements. The Qu'aiti Sultanate was known for its strategic location on the southern coast of Yemen and its prosperity derived from trade, particularly in frankincense and spices. During its existence, the palace served as the official residence of the Qu'aiti rulers and witnessed numerous historical events. It was a center of political and cultural activity in the region, hosting visiting dignitaries, diplomats, and local leaders. Following the overthrow of the Qu'aiti Sultanate in 1967 and the establishment of the

People's Democratic Republic of Yemen South Yemen, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, abbreviated to Democratic Yemen, was a country in South Arabia that existed in what is now southeast Yemen from 1967 until its unification with the Yemen Arab Republic in 19 ...

, the palace lost its status as a royal residence and was dubbed "October 14th Palace".

Architecture

The architectural style of the Palace reflects eastern Indian and British colonial influences. The palace features intricate carvings, ornamental motifs, and delicate details that showcase the craftsmanship of the period. The use of local materials such as stone and wood adds to the palace's aesthetic appeal. The layout of the palace encompasses multiple courtyards, halls, and private chambers. The grand reception areas were designed to accommodate large gatherings and state functions. The interiors are adorned with colorful

frescoes Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...

, decorative tiles, and luxurious furnishings, offering a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the ruling elite.

Present day

Sultan Al-Qu’aiti Palace was built on a firth. It consists of three storeys and surrounded by a fence with big areas which contains corridors, a hall to receive guests, a meeting room and a wide room for running the state topped by a throne chair. In recent years, the palace was completely transformed to a museum which consists of three suites.

Gallery

File:Flags of the Quaiti sultanate.jpg File:A staircase of the Quaiti palace.jpg File:Balcony of the quaiti palace.jpg File:Mukalla Museum.jpg File:The Red Hall (1).jpg File:First elevator in the Arabian Peninsula.jpg File:Eastern View of the Quaiti palace.jpg

References

External links