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38-609: Ras Rakan , the Qatar Peninsula 's northernmost point, is included in the municipality, and as such is surrounded by the Persian Gulf in all directions except for the south. It borders the municipality of Al Khor . The municipality is divided into three primary zones. Al Shamal Municipality was established in July 1972 alongside Qatar's four other initial municipalities. Accommodating less than 9,000 inhabitants, Al Shamal

76-475: A 25,000 square meter healthcare facility and six educational institutes are to be constructed as part of this project. Furthermore, several of the construction projects are intended to supplement the Ar Ru'ays Port. Al Shamal Road is the major highway facilitating travel to the capital Doha , as well as between many villages within the municipality. Another important road is Al Zubarah Road, which links Zubarah to

114-435: A fishing village abandoned in the 1970s and located 5 km away from Ar Ru'ays, is one example. After being partially reconstructed in 2009, the government announced its plans in late 2015 to convert the village into a museum. Containing no less than 60 crumbled structure, Jumail is thought to date back to the 19th century and had a close connection to Ruwayda , another ruined village situated 1 km away which accommodates

152-735: A popular destination due to its lush vegetation. In recent years, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment have embarked on campaigns to restore the mangroves that grow abundantly on its coast. Also located along the coast of Ar Ru'ays is the Al Shamal Corniche, a seafront promenade with a length of 2,570 meters. It was announced in 2017 that Qatar's largest health resort, due to cover 250,00 sq meters, will be built in Khasooma, east of Ar Ru'ays . Abandoned villages are also being restored and converted into tourist attractions. Jumail,

190-549: A town located in the western section of the municipality, which grew to be the largest and most important settlement in Qatar during the 18th century. A survey conducted by the British Hydrographic Office in 1890 reflects on the subsequent abandonment of Al Zubarah and also provides details of the surrounding area's geography: "Ras Ashiraj [Ras Ushayriq] is a low rocky point, 16 miles S.W. of Ras Rakkin , to

228-573: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Ain Sinan Ain Sinan ( Arabic : عين سنان , romanized :  ‘Ayn Sinān ) is a village on the northern coast of Qatar , located in the municipality of Al Shamal . Historically, the village has been mainly inhabited by the Al-Rashed tribe. Ain Sinan gets its name from a man named Sinan, who built a well and farm in

266-490: Is a protected area in western Al Shamal measuring 1,189 square kilometers in area. This area encompasses the archaeological site of Zubarah and the Al Ishriq Wildlife Breeding Center. Several reintroduced species are found in this area such as sand gazelles and ostriches , in addition to native species such as dugongs , spiny-tailed lizards and red foxes . Ar Ru'ays ' coastal area is

304-480: Is also a high propensity of abandoned villages scattered throughout the municipality. The following zones were recorded in the 2015 population census: Other settlements, abandoned villages and sites of interest in Al Shamal include: Ash-Shamal Municipality comprises four principal departments headed and managed by Hamad Jumaa Al Mannai, mayor of ash-Shamal Municipality as of 2016. The director's office, heading

342-426: Is considered a local historic landmark and has undergone renovation by Qatar Museums . Ain Sinan is situated near the north-eastern tip of Qatar, about 70 km away from capital Doha . The village of Al Zarqaa is nearby. In the past, villages situated directly on the coast such as Al Ghariyah and Fuwayrit experienced water shortages because seawater prevented direct access to the groundwater. Additionally,

380-513: Is in the process of developing Al Shamal's historic villages, archaeological sites and natural areas into tourist attractions. As the municipality currently has the highest annual precipitation rate in the country and a large coastline area, the QTA has prioritized the establishment of eco-reserves in certain areas. Islands such as Ras Rakan and Umm Tais have been developed as nature reserves in order to boost eco-tourism. The Al Reem Biosphere Reserve

418-527: Is situated on slightly rising ground, about 1½ miles inland, between Zubara and Fariha ." A unique system of partnership between coastal and inland villages was historically prevalent. Groundwater would be very difficult to obtain from settlements located directly on the coast due to the intrusion of seawater. Thus, coastal villages would trade prized marine resources such as fish in exchange for resources obtainable only from inland areas such as freshwater and crops. Examples of these historical partnerships include

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456-460: Is the historic Zubarah Fort , built in 1938 and converted to a museum in 1987. This fort was built as a coast guard station and is now the center of the Zubarah archaeological site. A short distance away from Zubarah Fort is Qal'at Murair , which was built to defend Zubarah's inland wells. Approximately 8 km northeast of Zubarah Fort is the multi-purpose Ar Rakiyat Fort . Constructed around

494-438: Is the least populous municipality in the country. As it comprises the northernmost portion of the country, its historic importance is attributed to its more moderate weather and close proximity to Bahrain . The traditional mainstay of its inhabitants was fishing and pearling. As early as the 16th century, Al Huwailah, located on the east coast of Al Shamal, served as Qatar's chief town. It was eventually overtaken by Al Zubarah ,

532-651: The Al Khor Municipality . The Qatar–Bahrain Causeway was a major development project which would provide a causeway between Qatar and Bahrain near the town of Zubarah , however, after several postponements, it is unclear if the project is still underway. Al Shamal Industrial Area is the region's industrial hub. The municipality's long-term development plan suggests that the area will cater to light and medium industries such as manufacturing, construction and logistics, benefiting both Ar Ru'ays Port and

570-568: The Fuwayrit – Zarqa partnership and the Al Ghariyah – Al `Adhbah partnership. Another way settlements obtained freshwater was by excavating rawdas to create small reservoirs that would fill during rainy season. Proceeding the discovery of oil, most of Al Shamal's population migrated to the capital Doha . In the mid-20th century, the region once again experienced significant population outflow due to upper aquifer salinization resulting from

608-482: The Qatar Statistics Authority , it was found that its average depth was 3.5 meters (11 ft) and its average pH was 7.74. Furthermore, the waters had a salinity of 48.18 psu, an average temperature of 19.61°C and 4.86 mg/L of dissolved oxygen. 26°11′1″N 51°12′56″E  /  26.18361°N 51.21556°E  / 26.18361; 51.21556 This Qatari location article

646-580: The Qatari Peninsula , located in Al Shamal . It is the north-western point of an islet called Jazirat Ras Rakan, but as the channel between this islet and the mainland is not passable for boats, Jazirat Ras Rakan may be regarded as forming the northern extremity of the promontory. The islet is nearly 1 ½ miles from the shore, and may be reached by wading through low water. The northernmost town of Qatar, Ar Ru'ays , lies 2 ½ miles south-east from

684-514: The 19th century and only its base structure has been preserved. Similarly, Yusufiya Fort is dated to the 19th century and has only retained its base structure. Artifacts dating to the 13th century have been discovered at this fort. A cluster of Abbasid -period (750–1253) archaeological sites are found near the north-west coast and include Ar Rakiyat , Umm Al Kilab , Ghaf Makin , Mussaykah, Murwab , and Al-Haddiyah. Structures that were excavated at these sites were roughly aligned with Mecca . All of

722-441: The 19th century to protect the water supply of Ar Rakiyat and to fend off invasions, this fort was restored by Qatar Museums in 1988. An older fort is found 2 km away from Ar Rakiyat, near the abandoned village of Ath Thaqab . Like most other Qatari forts, Ath Thaqab Fort is rectangular in shape and has four main towers. It dates to somewhere between the 17th and 19th centuries. Umm Al Maa Fort, also near Zubarah, dates to

760-442: The 2000s. At present, these three villages are the commercial and administrative centers of the municipality. The majority of Al Shamal's settlements are rural, consisting mainly of small villages and farms. Most of Qatar's archaeological sites, abandoned villages and protected areas can be found in the municipality. Development is mainly oriented towards the three adjacent villages of Madinat ash Shamal, Abu Dhalouf and Ar Ru'ays, and

798-586: The Ministry of Municipality & Urban Planning documented 125 farms, constituting about 12% of all of Qatar's farms at that time. Most of the farms were based in the eastern section, with Madinat Al Kaaban having the highest concentration. Qatar's inaugural privately owned large-scale fishing project was launched in the Al Shamal Industrial Area in October 2017. Up to 2,000 tonnes of fish will be supplied every year for domestic consumption by

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836-410: The Ministry of Municipality and Environment, the municipality accommodates 101 rawdas , 41 wadis , 51 jeris ( places where water flows ), 77 plains , 13 hills, three highlands , 12 sabkhas , 12 capes , one bay , and three coral reefs . Three islands are found off its shores: Jazirat Al Khuwayr, Jazirat Umm Tais , and the northern extremity of Jazirat Ras Rakan. Abu Dhalouf and Ar Ru'ays were

874-638: The area. In J.G. Lorimer's Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf , Ain Sinan was described as a village 4 miles southwest of Fuwayrit which contained a fort with a 35 feet deep masonry well. The fort was said to have been built by the Al-Maadeed tribe. After the Al Maadeed abandoned the area, the fort was held by the Bu Kuwara tribe of Fuwayrit as a means to secure its water supply. The village

912-436: The construction of 12 new intersections, 28 km of sidewalks, 8,000 parking spaces and 3,680 light poles. Most of these renovations and additions are set to take place near the municipality's major cities on its northern tip and its eastern section, near Al Huwailah. Also in the works was a 91 km sewage network. Most major sanitation facilities are to be located near Madinat ash Shamal and Ar Ru'ays. In Madinat ash Shamal,

950-659: The director's assistants and the heads of the following departments: Government statistics indicate that in 2015 the municipality accommodated 8 schools. The majority of these schools are located in the northern portion of the municipality. There is one primary healthcare center in the municipality, located in Madinat ash Shamal . Residents in Al Shamal's eastern section, including Ain Sinan , are served by healthcare centers in Al Khor . Commercial fishing activities and cargo transport take place primarily at Ar Ru'ays Port, one of

988-447: The eastward of which is a bay 1½ miles deep, but shallow. On the east side of this bay stands the once important town of Zubara, of which extensive ruins are still to be seen; it is now abandoned, and the inhabitants have removed to Moreyr [Murair]. Vessels from Bahrain to Zubara generally sight Ras Rakkin, and then skirt the shore reef in 4 or 5 fathoms, till Khor Hassan tower is sighted. The large fort at Moreyr should then be seen; it

1026-493: The fish farm. Al-Shamal SC , a sports club most notable for its football team which competes in the Qatargas League , is situated in the city. Their home games are played at Al-Shamal SC Stadium in Madinat ash Shamal . Another stadium of the same name, Al-Shamal Stadium , is a proposed 45,120 capacity multi-purpose stadium currently under construction for the 2022 FIFA World Cup . The Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA)

1064-427: The islet. If approached from a northward direction, Ar Ru'ays becomes visible before Ras Rakan is spotted. Jazirat Ras Rakkan is a very low, T-shaped islet, with tufts of grass on it. There are some small mangroves on the southern side of it. It is nearly 2 miles in length east to west, and extremely narrow. The T-head, at its western end, is 1 mile long. In a 2010 survey of Ras Rakan's coastal waters conducted by

1102-486: The largest villages on the northern coastline until the 1970s, when the Qatari government enacted a plan to establish Madinat ash Shamal between these two villages. Throughout the 1970s, a road system and a port were built to connect the three villages. Development of Madinat ash Shamal continued through the 1980s and 1990s, whereas urban developments were carried out on the adjacent settlements of Abu Dhalouf and Ar Ru'ays in

1140-429: The overuse of diesel-powered water pumps. Nonetheless, once Qatar had begun reaping profits from its oil extraction activities, many northern settlements became repopulated as it became feasible to transport water over longer distances. Accounting for roughly 7% of Qatar's overall landmass, Al Shamal is the northernmost municipality, its outermost point being Ras Rakan . It has around 80 km of coastline. According to

1178-445: The process of implementing more than 20 construction projects in the municipality at a cost exceeding QR 2.2 billion with a planned completion date of 2022. Roughly 60% of the total budget was to be spent on improving already-existing infrastructure while the remainder would be spent on funding new projects. As part of the plan, the municipality's transport system would see major improvements with its 73-km road system being renovated and

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1216-517: The remains of what is possibly the largest fort in Qatar. According to statistics made available by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, the municipality was said to accommodate 5 parks in 2018. As a result of the gradual urbanization of the various nomadic Qatari tribes in Al Shamal's past, numerous historic forts are found throughout the municipality. Many of these forts were built to protect scarce water resources, while others were to protect from invasions by neighboring tribes. Most prominent

1254-422: The sites are situated next to rawdas (depressions), ensuring a reliable water supply. The following table is a breakdown of registered live births by nationality and sex for Al Shamal. Places of birth are based on the home municipality of the mother at birth . [REDACTED] Madinat ash Shamal travel guide from Wikivoyage Ras Rakan Ras Rakan ( Arabic : رأس راكان ) is the northernmost point in

1292-491: The stated aim of "transforming Ar Ru'ays Port into northern Qatar's pathway to the world", was launched in January 2015. North of Fuwayrit , a major desalination plant is under development, while an expansion of a sewage treatment situated south of Madinat ash Shamal will supply local farmers with treated sewage effluent for agricultural use. The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) unveiled in October 2017 that they had begun

1330-486: The three primary ports of Qatar. Starting in 2010, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) in Qatar carried out development on the port. The development included construction of a basin, deepening the channel at 2900 meter length, passenger jetty, commercial crew jetty, protection wall, storage areas, government offices, workshops, and passenger terminal building. Ar Ru'ays Port Development Project, which has

1368-481: The urban development of its principal towns. Around 14 sizable farming regions exist in the municipality, in the settlements of Ain Al Nuaman, Murwab , Zubarah , Lisha, Al `Arish , Ath Thaqab , Ar Ru'ays , Abu Dhalouf and Al Jumail in the west, and Al Mafjar , Athba Al Shamaliyya, Ain Sinan , Madinat Al Kaaban , and Al Jethay in the east. In 2010, the municipality recorded 115 farms spanning its area while

1406-528: The village of Ain Sinan , with the bulk of development occurring in Madinat ash Shamal. The following is climate data for the town of Ar Ru'ays on the northern coast. The municipality is divided into 3 zones which are then divided into 162 blocks. According to municipal officials, there are approximately 28 rural settlements of varying sizes situated outside the Madinat ash Shamal area. The majority of these settlements are nestled along Al Shamal Road. There

1444-616: Was demarcated in 1992. The nearest health center is 15 km away in Madinat Al Kaaban . There is no secondary school in the village; high school students typically commute to Madinat ash Shamal , 25 km away. Ain Sinan Park was opened in 2013, and covers an area of 5152 meters. It has a children's play area, a cafeteria, and features 15 different species of trees and shrubs. Built in 1940, Ain Sinan Mosque

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