Kasr

Kasr is a term from Arabic meaning fortress, castle, or palace. In English transliteration it is rendered as Kasr, Qasr, or Qoser in different sources, with Kasr often indicating a long vowel. The word is widely used in toponyms across the Arab world and former Islamic territories to denote fortifications, royal buildings, or ruins.

In geography and archaeology, Kasr appears in the names of historic sites and districts. Notable examples include Qasr al-Hosn in Abu Dhabi, a 18th-century fort that stands as a city landmark; Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi and Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi in Syria, desert castles from late antiquity and the early Islamic period; and Qasr al-Farid, the solitary Nabataean tomb at Mada'in Salih in Saudi Arabia. In Egypt, Kasr survives in city districts and monuments such as Kasr El Nil and Kasr El Aini in Cairo, where a major bridge and a hospital bear the name.

In modern usage, Kasr as a toponym element remains common in maps and guides, reflecting historical fortifications, palaces, or fortified enclosures. The term also appears in everyday language as part of Syrian, Egyptian, and Gulf place names, without implying a single site.