The palace complex consisted of two primary buildings. The larger one has been identified as the Dar al-'Amma (Public Palace), where the caliph sat in audience and conducted official business, and where the public treasury (''bayt al-mal'') was housed. On the western side of the palace was the Bab al-'Amma (Public Gate), whose triple ''iwan'' still survives. The Bab al-'Amma was often used as a location for public executions and displaying the remains of those killed.