Madinat ash Shamal

Madinat ash Shamal (Arabic: الشمال‎) is the capital city of the municipality of Al Shamal in Qatar.[1] Located more than 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of Qatar's capital Doha, the city was delimited in 1988 and shares its boundaries with Ar Ru'ays to the east and Abu Dhalouf to the west.[2]

Madinat ash Shamal

الشمال
City
Al Emam Malik Mosque on Al Baratha Street in Madinat Ash Shamal.
Madinat ash Shamal
Madinat ash Shamal
Coordinates: 26°07′00″N 51°13′00″E
Country Qatar
MunicipalityAl Shamal
Zone no.79
Area
 • Total4.91 km2 (1.90 sq mi)

Etymology

The city's name "Madinat ash Shamal" translates to "city of the north".[3]

Geography

Madinat ash Shamal is located at a distance of over 100 km of the capital Doha, 27 km away from Zubarah, 24 km away from Fuwayrit, 76 km away from Al Khor, and 122 km away from Al Wakrah.[4]

History

Throughout most of the 20th century, Abu Dhalouf and Ar Ru'ays were the largest villages on the northern coast. In the early 1970s, the Qatari government enacted a plan to establish Madinat ash Shamal between these two villages to serve as an administrative center for the north, in line with its policy of decentralization from the capital of Doha. Throughout the 1970s, a road system and a port were built to connect the three villages.[5] As part of a government housing project, 50 houses had been built in Madinat ash Shamal by 1976.[6] Large-scale development of Madinat ash Shamal continued through the 1980s and 1990s.[5]

Visitor attractions
Looking towards the Al Meera Supercenter on Mesaika Street from Al Baratha Street.

Situated next to the Al Shamal Municipality headquarters is Madinat ash Shamal Park. One of Qatar's larger parks, it occupies an area of 56,000 square meters. Facilities in the park include a restaurant, café, bathrooms and a children's play area. Water features are present in the park, as well as an irrigation system to sustain its various plants.[7]

Infrastructure

The city's first public library was opened in 1979.[8]

By 1976 the city had its first hospital, with a meager 16 beds.[9] At present, one of the only healthcare centers in the region is hosted by the city.[10]

Sports
Al-Shamal SC Stadium.

Multi-sports club Al Shamal SC is based in the city. They play their home games at Al-Shamal SC Stadium, which is fashioned after a traditional fort.[11]

Administration

When free elections of the Central Municipal Council first took place in Qatar during 1999,[12] Madinat ash Shamal was designated the seat of constituency no. 28.[13] It would remain the headquarters of constituency no. 28 for the next three consecutive elections until the fifth municipal elections in 2015, when it was moved to constituency no. 29 and the seat was shared by Madinat ash Shamal and Ar Ru'ays. Also included in its constituency is Abu Dhalouf, Al Jumail, Zubarah, Ain Mohammed and Al `Arish.[14]

In the inaugural municipal elections in 1999, Saad Ali Al Nuaimi won the elections, receiving 33.3%, or 64 votes. The runner-up candidate was Hussain Ibrahim Al Fadhalah, whose share of the votes was 18.2%, or 35 votes. Voter turnout was 87.7%[13] Al Nuaimi retained his seat in the 2002,[15] 2007[16] and 2011 elections.[17] In the 2015 elections, Nasser Hassan Al-Kubaisi was elected constituency representative.[14]

Qatar National Master Plan

The Qatar National Master Plan (QNMP) is described as a "spatial representation of the Qatar National Vision 2030".[18] As part of the QNMP's Urban Centre plan, which aims to implement development strategies in 28 central hubs that will serve their surrounding communities, Madinat ash Shamal has been designated a Town Centre, which is the third-highest designation. It is the only Urban Centre in the municipality.[19]

Al Shamal Town Centre will be located at the midpoint of Madinat ash Shamal and its two neighboring settlements of Abu Dhalouf and Al Ruwais. The plan will focus on upgrading Al Ruwais Port, increasing tourism to the area, and preserving the coastal ecosystem. New mixed-use developments will be constructed to meet the commercial needs of the residents of the aforementioned settlements. Some of the planned buildings include a post office, a 123,965 m² botanical garden, a theme park, a ladies club, a social centre, a new municipal office, and three new schools.[20]

  • Goats grazing in Madinat ash Shamal.
  • Sunset at Al Shamal Beach.
  • Acalypha wilkesiana in Madinat ash Shamal Park.

References
  1. "2010 population census" (PDF). Qatar Statistics Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  2. "Law No. 25 of 1988 On the Delimitation of the City of Al Shamal". almeezan.qa. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  3. "About Qatar". Civil Aviation Authority. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  4. Whelan, John (1983). Qatar, a MEED practical guide. London: Middle East Economic Digest. p. 160. ISBN 0950521191.
  5. "Al Shamal Municipality: Vision and Development Strategy" (PDF). Ministry of Municipality and Environment. December 2017. p. 4. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  6. Qatar Year Book: 1976. Doha: Press and Publications Department, Ministry of Information. 1976. p. 64.
  7. "منتزة مدينة الشمال" (in Arabic). Ministry of Municipality and Environment. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  8. Abdullahi, Ismaïl (2009). Global Library and Information Science - a Textbook for Students and Educators. IFLA Publications; 136/137. München: K.G. Saur. p. 424. ISBN 978-3-598-22042-5.
  9. Qatar Year Book: 1976. Doha: Press and Publications Department, Ministry of Information. 1976. p. 62.
  10. "Al Shamal Municipality: Vision and Development Strategy" (PDF). Ministry of Municipality and Environment. December 2017. p. 20. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  11. "Al Shamal Club". Qatar Football Association. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  12. "Central Municipal Council". Government Communications Office of Qatar. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  13. "إنتخابات الدورة الأولى" (in Arabic). Central Municipal Council. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  14. "مقـار الدوائـر" (in Arabic). Ministry of Interior (Qatar). Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  15. "الدورة الثانية" (in Arabic). Central Municipal Council. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  16. "إنتخابات الدورة الثالثة" (in Arabic). Central Municipal Council. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  17. "رابعاً: إنتخابات الدورة الرابعة كشف بأسماء السادة المرشحين الفائزين في عضوية انتخابات المجلس البلدي المركزي (الدورة الرابعة - 2011م)" (in Arabic). Central Municipal Council. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  18. "About Qatar National Master Plan". Ministry of Municipality and Environment. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  19. "About the Centre Plans". Ministry of Municipality and Environment. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  20. "Centre Plans and Zoning Regulations" (PDF). Ministry of Municipality and Environment. pp. 219–228. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
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