The lush and fertile palm gardens of Nakheel have always been an important source of food and water. Many people lived inside these shady oasis and more came during the summertime, to escape the harsh heat and humidity. They lived in mud brick buildings and palm frond huts ("Areesh"), but rarely in stone houses, which were only built by local Sheikh Families.
These families were able to construct a larger compound including a tower. Hudaybah Tower was originally part of such a compound, whose buildings have long been demolished, except for the tower. The latter served as the Sheikh's residence, comprising of a living room and reception room, and also served a defensive and prestigious purpose.
Hudaybah Tower consists of a main tower and an attachment to the eastern wall. A staircase leads to the reception room ("Majlis") on the first floor, where the Sheikh would sit with his visitors. An open platform on the roof was originally surrounded with crenellations and loopholes and could be used for defense purposes. A lookout and "machicoulis" enhanced the fortifications.
The two-story attachment to the eastern wall was a later addition. Its ground floor was used as a store-room, and the living room and bathroom on the first floor was accessible from the tower's majlis. A veranda was built along the front of both buildings to provide a shady area for the ground floor, while its roof served as an outside sleeping platform during hot summer nights, accessible from the majlis and living room.
There are several similar towers still existing in Ras Al Khaimah and one that can be visited is the Falayah Tower.