The town lies in the eastern part of the
Dakhhla Oasis in Egypt. Three kilometers to the northeast at Ain 'Asil (Arabic عين أصيل) was a settlement from the
Old Kingdom. The northern part of the settlement was surrounded by a wall. There was the palace of the governor (head of the oasis) and other administrative buildings. In the south, among other things, there were significant remains of houses and potteries.
History
The place exists probably only since the second half of the
14th century. The name Balāṭ el-Malik, occasionally used by locals, means ruler's seat. The old village center is located on the south side of the trunk road to
Muṭ, the "modern" settlement extends on the north side.[2]