Al Wakrah

This article is about the city in eastern Qatar. For the municipality in which the city is located, see Al Wakrah (municipality).
Al Wakrah
الوكرة
City
Top to Bottom, Left to Right: A lone fishing vessel on the coastline, Workers traveling along Al Wakrah Corniche in the Al Wakrah Heritage Village, Traditional stone buildings in Al Wakrah Heritage Village, Renovated fort of Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani (now known as Al Wakrah Fort)
Official seal of Al Wakrah
Seal
Al Wakrah is located in Qatar
Al Wakrah
Al Wakrah
Location in Qatar
Al Wakrah is located in Middle East
Al Wakrah
Al Wakrah
Al Wakrah (Middle East)
Al Wakrah is located in Asia
Al Wakrah
Al Wakrah
Al Wakrah (Asia)
Coordinates (Al Wakrah): 25°10′48″N 51°36′36″E / 25.18000°N 51.61000°E / 25.18000; 51.61000
Country Qatar
MunicipalityAl Wakrah Municipality
Area
 • Total
75.8 km2 (29.3 sq mi)
Population
 (2015)[1]
 • Total
87,970
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+03
ISO 3166 codeQA-WA

Al Wakrah (Arabic: الوكرة, romanized: al-Wakra) is the capital city of the Al Wakrah Municipality in Qatar. Al Wakrah's eastern edge touches the shores of the Persian Gulf and Qatar's capital Doha is situated to the city's immediate north. Governed by Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, it was originally a small fishing and pearling village. Over the years, it evolved into a small city with a population of more than 80,000 and is currently one of Qatar's most populous cities.[2]

The city was historically used as a pearling center during the period in which Qatar's economy was almost entirely dependent on the bustling pearling industry.[3][4] According to the United States Hydrographic Office, by 1920, there were approximately 300 ships situated in the town.[5] A following study carried out by the British in 1925 stated that there were 250 boats in Wakrah's port.[6] Al Wakrah was thought to encompass the so-called 'Pirate Coast', as stated by a report written in 1898.[7] Once the country began large-scale oil operations in the mid-20th century, Al Wakrah gained in importance for its proximity to the Mesaieed Industrial Area, Qatar's main industrial manufacturing hub and oil terminal.[8]

It has undergone extensive development and growth since the turn of the 21st century while also being steadily encroached on by rapidly expanding Doha from the north. Notable milestones in the city's modern history include the 2019 inauguration of Al Janoub Stadium, a venue for the Qatar 2022 World Cup,[9] the opening of Souq Al Wakrah in 2014,[10] the Al Wakrah Main Road Project,[11] and the city's integration into the Doha Metro's Red Line in 2019.[12]

  1. ^ "2015 Population census" (PDF). Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. April 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Qatar's growing economy continues to provide high standard of living". Oxford Business Group. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  3. ^ Schulte-Peever, Andrea; Shearer, Iain (1 September 2013). Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula. Lonely Planet. p. 279. ISBN 978-1742200095. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  4. ^ Fromherz, Allen (13 April 2012). Qatar: A Modern History. Georgetown University Press. ISBN 978-1-58901-910-2.
  5. ^ Publications, Issue 158. United States Hydrographic Office. 1920. p. 112. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  6. ^ "'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol. II. Geographical and Statistical. J G Lorimer. 1908' [1925] (2052/2084)". Qatar Digital Library. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  7. ^ "'PERSIAN GULF AND GULF OF OMAN. RESOURCES AND COAST DEFENCES.' [18] (24/114)". Qatar Digital Library. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  8. ^ The Report: Qatar 2016. Oxford Business Group. 2016. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-910068-63-2.
  9. ^ "Tradition and innovation come together as striking Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah City is opened". FIFA. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference gulftimes1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "Al Wakrah Main Road project: Traffic diversions from Saturday". Gulf Times. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Red Line". Qatar Rail. Retrieved 9 January 2019.