The state of Qatar is divided into 8 municipalities. These municipalities offer something different, but they each contribute to the development of the country.
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Which of these municipalities have you visited? Which municipalities did you live in?
All You Ever Need to Know about Qatar’s Municipalities
There are 8 municipalities in Qatar. Each municipality has different land areas and may have different work opportunities and attractions. If you have been in Qatar for a long time, you might even have a chance to visit most of these municipalities.
Let’s discuss these municipalities and what you can see in each:
- Doha
This is the country’s capital; thus, you can find most financial and administrative offices there. There are also plenty of housing opportunities. Doha has the largest population compared with the other municipalities.
Some of the sights that you can see in Doha are souq waqif, Amiri Diwan, Doha Corniche, Hamad Medical City, and the Hamad International Airport.
- Al Rayyan
This municipality was established in 1972. It is the second-most populous municipality. Al Rayyan is interesting because it is a mix of industrial land on one end and agricultural and rural land on the other.
Al Rayyan is home to Villagio Mall and Mall of Qatar. You can find Sidra Medical and Research Center there. Three of the stadiums to be used in the FIFA World Cup are also located in Al Rayyan, they are the Al Rayyan Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, and Education City Stadium.
- Umm Salal
This municipality was established in 1972. The name comes from the stone formation that is seen in the area. Thus, Umm Salal means “mother of rocks.” You can see the Barzan Towers and Barzan Olympic Park in Umm Salal.
- Al Khor & Al Thakira
This municipality is also called Al-Khawr & Dhakirah, and is located in the northeast. Al Khor is rich in natural gas and home to the farming and fishing industry.
If you want to see the mangroves or go kayaking, then you should head over to Al Khor. You can also visit Purple Island and Al Khor Corniche while you are in the area.
What’s more, it is home to Al Bayt Stadium, which will be used in the FIFA World Cup as well.
- Al Wakrah
In the past, the livelihood in Al Wakrah is fishing and pearling. Now other livelihoods are available like the Mesaieed’s industrial center. The name comes from “wakar” or bird’s nest because there was plenty of bird’s nest in the hills.
The Inland Sea, also found in Al Wakrah, is a UNESCO-recognized site. For World Cup fans, you can catch one of the games at Al Wakrah Stadium (or Al Janoub Stadium).
- Al Daayen
Al Daayen is one of the newest municipalities, having been established in 2014. The name comes from “dhayeen” which translates “to wander.” This municipality is along the beach road near the Smisma bridge.
Lusail City is the most famous landmark of Al Daayen. When we talk about Lusail City, we should also mention Lusail Stadium. The said stadium is another venue of the FIFA World Cup. For recreation, you can head over to IKEA or Doha Festival City.
- Al Shamal
This is the least populated among the municipalities. It is located near the northwest corner of the country. It is near Al Khor. The other side of Al Shamal is the Arabian Gulf.
This municipality features historical sites such as Al Zubara Fort and Museum and Al Reem Biosphere Reserve.
- Al Sheehaniya
This is also a newly-established municipality because it was established in 2014. It used to be part of Al Rayyan.
This municipality is known for the breeding place of oryx and venue of camel racing. You can also visit the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum.
How to Get Around the Municipalities
Most of these municipalities are connected by land. Car owners can easily go from one municipality to another. You can also use the Doha Metro to go to some of them, like Doha, and Al Rayyan. Meanwhile, there are plans to connect Al Khor and Al Daayen to the metro line.
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