In general, there were two administrative structures in the early Islamic city. One of these was the Dar al-Imara, the place of the amir, of the social leadership, and of the military. Both of these buildings had fixed locations relative to the mosque. This topographic configuration would correspond to the axial relationship of the Ayla congregational mosque, excavated in 1993, and the palace structure mentioned above. The model would predict a Balat or financial offices to be located in the unexcavated area west of the palace.
Nothing is ever completely straightforward, even in the best of models.
This pattern would suggest that the first mosque at Ayla will be found south of the palace building. This very brief description of a model of the early Islamic city has an obvious function in providing an empirical basis for understanding Ayla or other archaeological sites. Perhaps of more interest for the Oriental Institute is the strong indication that, among other aspects, the early Islamic city was a ritual city. Rather like Persepolis, the ritual city is a functional framework that has underpinned urbanism since very early times. One may trace this phenomenon from the ancient Near East into its late antique manifestations in southwest Arabia.