Abu Nakhla

Abu Nakhla (Arabic: أبو نخلة‎, romanized: Abū Nakhlah) is a district in Qatar, located in the municipality of Al-Shahaniya.[2] Previously a village of some importance stood here, but by the 21st century was largely depopulated.[3] It was recorded as a stand-alone district in zone no. 81 with Al Mukaynis in the 2004 census, but both districts lost their census designations to Mebaireek.[4] In 2014, Abu Nakhla was moved from Al Rayyan Municipality to the newly-created Al-Shahaniya Municipality.

Abu Nakhla أبو نخلة
Village
Abu Nakhla
Coordinates: 25°09′00″N 51°20′00″E[1]
Country	Qatar
Municipality	Al-Shahaniya
Zone	Zone 82

The district is host to Qatar's only water park.[5] A hospital managed by the Hamad Medical Corporation is based here to meet the health needs for workers of the nearby Doha Industrial Area.[6]

Etymology

"Abu" is the Arabic word for father, and serves to denote a geographical feature. The second word, "nakhla", is the local term for a palm tree, and was chosen in reference to a lone palm tree found in the area.[3]

Geography

Reeds (Phragmites australis) in Abu Nakhla Pond

Situated about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) away from the capital Doha, the district straddles the border of Al Rayyan Municipality and Al-Shahaniya Municipality.[5]

Abu Nakhla Pond

Since 1985, sewage effluent from Doha has been dumped in a depression (rawda) in Abu Nakhla. Combined with gradual and continuous rainfall during the rainy season, the depression has morphed into a 2 to 3 km pond. Locals have long complained about negative environmental and health effects resulting from the pond, including increased pest populations, foul odors and seepage into aquifers. There is also a strong perception that the sewage water is untreated, and could pose a health hazard. From 2014 to 2015, a study was carried out on the area to investigate potential environmental hazards posed by the pond.[7]

The study revealed that, in regards to lithology, the rocks of the pond comprised two members of the Eocene-period Dammam Formation: the Simsima/Umm Bab Member and the Midra Shale Member. The former member is known for its shallow aquifer, as well as for its weak structure and frequent crevices and fissures, which make it susceptible to contamination by sewage leakage from the pond. Of the water quality, the pond was found to contain low amounts of bacterial contaminants due to Qatar's use of sophisticated filtration techniques. Concentrations of heavy metals were also found to be within acceptable ranges.[7]

Various species of wildlife currently reside in and around the pond, including frogs, fish, and at least 260 bird species. Approximately 150 greater flamingos have been recorded in the area. Plant life is also abundant here; approximately 10% of Qatar's documented plant species are represented here.[7]

Attractions

Dilapidated mosque near the water reservoirs in Abu Nakhla.

Qatar's first water park was opened in Abu Nakhla in October 2010.[8] Cypriot company Aqua Masters was responsible for the park's planning and development while Kuwaiti Al Jazeera Entertainment Enterprises Company oversees its operation. Spread out over a 50,000 m² area, the park can accommodate up to 3,000 visitors at a time. A 300,000 m² tourist resort is under development next to the park.[5]

Agriculture

As part of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment's Al Azab program to help improve the healthcare for livestock, it was announced in 2019 that a modern veterinary clinic is planned for the district.[9]

Water reservoir

Abu Nakhla is one of five sites for the government-sponsored project to develop reservoirs in the country.[10] Once completed, the reservoirs are expected to be the largest in the world in their category,[11] with a total length of 650 km and constructed at a cost of QR 14.5 billion. In June 2018, the first phase of the project was completed.[12]

References

1. "Abū Nakhlah: Qatar". geographic.org. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
2. "Qatar Development Atlas - Part 1" (PDF). Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. 2010. p. 10. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
3. "District map". The Centre for Geographic Information Systems of Qatar. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
4. "2004 population census". Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017.
5. "Aqua Park - Water Themed Park". Online Qatar. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
6. "PEO delivers Ras Laffan Hospital, health centre for workers to HMC". Qatar Tribune. Qatar News Agency. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
7. Elnaiem Ali Elobaid; Fadhil Nomas Sadooni; Luc Lebbe; et al. (March 2018). Environmental Evaluation Risk Assessment and Management options of Abu Nakhla Treated Sewage Effluent TSE Unlined Pond - Doha, Qatar. Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference Proceedings 2018. Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
8. "Aqua Park". Destination Amari. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
9. Sanaullah Ataullah (7 January 2019). "New veterinary centre to come up in Abu Nakhla". The Peninsula. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
10. "رئيس الوزراء: يطلق مشروع الخزانات الاستراتيجية الكبرى لتأمين المياه". Qatar Government. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
11. Amery, Hussain A. (15 June 2015). Arab Water Security: Threats and Opportunities in the Gulf States. Cambridge University Press. p. 121. ISBN 9781316381069.
12. Sanaullah Ataullah (29 June 2018). "PM opens first phase of QR14.5bn reservoirs project". The Peninsula. Retrieved 29 June 2018.