Al Wakrah (municipality)

A mosque in the central square of Traina.

The municipality was named after the city of Al Wakrah, which derives its name from the Arabic word "wakar", which roughly translates to "bird's nest". According to the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, this name was given in reference to a nearby hill which accommodated the nests of several birds.[2]

On 17 July 1972, the creation of the municipalities of Ar Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Al Khawr and Thakhira, Al Shamal, and Umm Salal were issued. This law identified Al Wakrah Municipality as a legal district.[3] The municipal board has a president and four members. The current president of the Municipal board is Mansour Ajran Al-Buainain.[4]

The southern end Al Wakrah is characterized by dense sand sheets sand dunes. Unlike northern Qatar where most areas lie close to sea level, much of the southern and central portions of Al Wakrah are at elevations of 40 to 60 meters above sea level. Water is scarce in most areas as the water table is relatively low. Although there are some rawdas (depressions), they are rare when compared to northern Qatar. Furthermore, the southern groundwater is often saline. As a result, permanent settlements were far and few between, with some exceptions being found at Al Kharrara, Traina and Al Furayah north of Khawr al Udayd.[5]

Limestone escarpments near Al Kharrara.

Many nomadic camps were created in Al Wakrah's south in past times; these sites can often be identified by the presence of small, open mosques. It is likely that Bedouins visited the region mainly during times of suitable weather, such as the rainy season. Herdsman were able to nourish their camels with the saline water, which would, in turn, yield drinkable milk.[5]

According to the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), the municipality accommodates 192 rawdas, 13 wadis, four jeris (places where water flows), seven plains, 14 hills, four highlands, seven sabkhas, four bays, and three coral reefs. The only cape recorded here is Ras Al Maharef. Two islands are found off its shores: Sheraouh Island and Al Aszhat Island.[6] One of the most prominent of its hills is Jebel Al Wakrah, an 85-feet high rocky hill located one mile south of the city of Al Wakrah.[7] The Naqiyan Hill Range dominates the southern quarter of the municipality in Khawr al Udayd.[8]

Sand dunes at Khawr al Udayd.

Al Wakrah

Al Thumama

Al Wukair

Al Mashaf

Mesaieed

Shagra

Al Kharrara

Khawr al Udayd

Approximate locations of the main districts in Al Wakrah.[13]

Al Wakrah Municipality was established in 1972 and supervises the city of Al Wakrah in addition to other settlements in the municipality. The municipality has four sections: Financial and Administrative Affairs Section, Health Affairs Section, General Affairs Section and the Technical Affairs Section.[3] Al Thumama is geographically located in both Al Wakrah Municipality and Doha Municipality.[2]

The municipality is divided into 7 zones which are then divided into 1410 blocks.[14]

Public schools in Al Wakrah amounted to 19 in 2016 as recorded in that year's education census – 9 were exclusively for girls and 10 were for boys. Male students (4,017) slightly outnumbered the 3,993 female students.[16]

Aerial view of Al Wakrah Hospital in 2014.

According to the 2015 government census, there were 4 registered healthcare facilities in the municipality.[17] Primary healthcare centers are located in Al Wakrah City[18] and Al Thumama.[19] Al Wakrah Hospital was established in 2012 and serves the southern region of the country. It is based in Al Wakrah City and is the largest hospital building in Qatar.[20]

Eleven pharmacies were recorded in the municipality in 2013 by Qatar's Supreme Council of Health.[21]

Panoramic view of Mesaieed Industrial Area at night.

Mesaieed Industrial Area, an industry hub, is located in Al Wakrah Municipality.[22] Umm Al Houl, another industrial city located in the municipality which is near to Mesaieed, hosts Qatar's main seaport Hamad Port,[23] and is the site of construction for what will eventually be Qatar's largest electricity and desalination plant.[24] A third industrial area containing some of Qatar's most important power stations and desalination plants is Ras Abu Fontas.[25]

A 6.3 km² "regional logistics hub" was launched in the southern portion of the municipality in 2016. The development of this hub will take place in Birkat Al Awamer and Aba Saleel, which are in close proximity to Hamad Port and Mesaieed Industrial Area. Among the facilities in this hub will be car workshops, labor camps, and commercial offices.[26] Construction of the hub will be managed by Qatari company Manateq.[27] The Doha Marketing and Services Company established a car stockyard in Birkat Al Awamer with a capacity of 1,700 cars in September 2016.[28]

A harbor in Al Wakrah.

Maritime industries such as fishing and pearling comprised the economic foundation of Al Wakrah's coastal settlement in the past.[29] Further inland, nomadic pastoralism dominated.[30] At present, agriculture plays only a minor role in Al Wakrah's economy. Farmland in Al Wakrah only accounted for 4.6% of Qatar's total farmland in 2015. There were 71 farms spread out over 2,188 hectares, with the majority (38) being used to grow crops, 3 being used to raise livestock and the remaining 30 being split between livestock and crops.[31] The municipality had a livestock inventory of 14,946, of which 8,375 were sheep and 6,093 were goats.[32]

In terms of artisanal fishing vessels, Al Wakrah city had the second-highest amount out of the major cities surveyed in 2015 at 179 vessels. However, its fleet has been significantly reduced from earlier years, for earlier in 2010 it had accommodated the most fishing vessels out of all cities surveyed with 237 vessels. The number of sailors was 1,186 in 2015, but this figure too had been decreasing over the years.[33]

Qatar Stars League team Al-Wakrah SC, founded in 1959, is based in Al Wakrah City.[34] They club plays its home games at the 12,000 capacity Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium.[35]

One of the proposed twelve venues for the 2022 FIFA World Cup is projected to be built in Al Wakrah City. Called Al Wakrah Stadium, it has a planned seating capacity of 40,000 and will replace Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium as Al Wakrah SC's home stadium.[36]

Sealine Beach Resort in Mesaieed.

Due to the unique ecosystem and landscape of Khawr al Udayd, it serves as one of the most important ecotourism site in the country.[37]

Sealine Beach Resort, located on the coast in Mesaieed, was the first tourist resort to be established in the country.[38] The resort has 37 rooms, 1 hectare of green space, a gym, a spa and 95 square meter multi-purpose hall.[39]

According to the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, the municipality accommodates 6 parks as of 2018.[40]

The following table is a breakdown of registered live births by nationality and sex for Al Wakrah. Places of birth are based on the home municipality of the mother at birth.[41]