Some 5km north of Al Zubarah lies the site of Freiha, a small abandoned town that is situated in a shallow bay. Current excavation and research suggest that the town dates from the early 18th to the mid-19th centuries when it was abandoned. This means that Freiha predates Al Zubarah and, possibly, was abandoned when the new town was established. The settlement seems to have changed shape and size over time, sometimes growing and then shrinking. These changes in fortune and population are reflected in the buildings, with occasional abandonment and frequent remodelling of homes.

In the centre of the site is the fort, a 45m square building with high defensive walls and corner towers. Nearby, on the shoreline, are the remains of a mosque, which was built in the traditional Qatari style that can be seen in many of the later mosques further north along the coast. It was plastered inside and out and was refurbished many times.

Life in Freiha was certainly centred on the Gulf; the main occupations for its inhabitants would very likely have been seasonal pearl diving and trading. Fishing was also very important as shown by the number of bones recovered from rubbish in the town and the several stone fish traps surviving in the sea.