Al‑Sheikh Deeb Castle (Qulay'a/Coleé)

The fortress perches on a volcanic outcrop and is built largely of dark volcanic stone, with structural elements worked directly against the natural rock. Two different elevations are reported for the hill that carries the castle, one source giving about 976 meters above sea level and another about 730 meters, reflecting variation in recorded measurements. The strong relationship between masonry and bedrock gives the site a compact, rock‑hugging plan.

The built enclosure is small, covering roughly 230 square metres, and surviving masonry appears mainly as wall fragments that bridge gaps between rock projections. These remains show how the builders used short lengths of wall to close off natural hollows in the rock, creating defended spaces that follow the irregularities of the outcrop. Within the defended area a well has been cut into the bedrock; this feature remains visible in situ and testifies to efforts to secure water inside the stronghold.

Approach to the castle is along a long valley that runs between two named ridges, the site lying among seasonal watercourses that flow westward toward Duraykish and the Qays river. A pronounced seasonal stream runs below the castle, and access becomes particularly difficult in winter when the channel carries more water. Below the fort a strong spring called al‑Sirdad issues from the slope; a mineral analysis has been recorded for its water, and there is evidence that a small settlement once stood near the spring. The overall condition of the site today is fragmentary, with the remaining masonry and the rock‑cut well providing the primary visible traces of the medieval fortress.