A'arif Fort is one of Hail's oldest historic landmarks, standing on the summit of Jabal A'arif, after which it is named, on the south-western edge of the old city. Historians attribute its construction to the era of the Al Ali family, rulers of Hail before the Al Rashid, and it served as a watchtower, a point for sighting the Ramadan crescent and firing the iftar cannon.
The fort consists of mud walls and watchtowers reached by a mountain path, and rewards visitors with a panoramic view over central Hail, Barzan Souq and the heritage districts, making it a fixed stop on tourist itineraries and short hiking routes.
