The largest archaeological site in Qatar is Al Zubarah, on the Persian Gulf, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. The site features the remains of the fortified coastal city of Al Zubarah, which was equipped with a port, a maritime canal, a fort (Qal’at Murair), and two protective walls. A flourishing fishing and pearl trading centre in the 18th and 19th centuries, the town was attacked and destroyed in 1811 and has been abandoned since the early 20th century. However, the desert sand protected the ruins (houses, mosques, fortified buildings, souk, defensive walls) and preserved the ingenious water management and distribution system.