At the height of its prosperity, Al Zubarah had trading links with the Indian Ocean, Arabia and Western Asia. The layout of Al Zubarah has been preserved under the desert sands. As a result, the 18th century urban layout of Al Zubarah has been almost entirely preserved in situ. Al Reem Biosphere Reserve and the National Heritage Park of Northern Qatar, in which Al Zubarah Archaeological Site is included, have the status of legally Protected Areas. The Qatar National Master Plan (QNMP) states that the protection of cultural heritage sites, of which Al Zubarah Archaeological Site is the country’s largest, is of crucial importance throughout Qatar (Policy BE 16).