Al Shagub Explained

Al Shagub
Native Name:الشقب
Native Name Lang: ar
Settlement Type:District
Pushpin Map:Qatar
Coordinates:25.3075°N 51.4414°W
Elevation Footnotes:[1]
Elevation M:24
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Qatar
Subdivision Type1:Municipality
Subdivision Name1:Al Rayyan
Subdivision Type2:Zone
Subdivision Name2:Zone 52
Subdivision Type3:District no.
Subdivision Name3:63
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:3.0
Population Density Km2:auto

Al Shagub (Arabic: الشقب|Ash Shaqb; also spelled Al Shaqab) is a district of Al Rayyan City in Qatar, located in the municipality of Al Rayyan.[3] Since it houses the universities in Qatar Foundation's educational project Education City, the district is sometimes referred to as Education City. Qatar Foundation has played a major role in developing the district.

History

J.G. Lorimer's Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf gives an account of Al Shagub in 1908. He describes it as a "Bedouin camping ground" that is "7 miles west of Dohah and a little north-east of Maraikh". He goes on to write "there is a fort here with a masonry well, 6 fathoms deep, of good water inside; it is on the way from Dohah to Wajbah."[4]

Infrastructure

The district houses Education City's university campuses, including Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, and Georgetown University in Qatar. The Qatar National Library is also in the district. Other facilities affiliated with Qatar Foundation are situated in Al Shagub and the nearby north-bound districts of Gharrafat Al Rayyan and Al Gharrafa.[5]

The Al Shaqab Equestrian Center is located towards the southern edge of the district. Al Shaqab Fort is found near the original site of the equestrian center.[6] To the immediate south of the equestrian center is the Al Rayyan Municipal Office in the district of Old Al Rayyan.[5]

Historical landmarks

Constructed in 1935, Al Shagub Well is one of Qatar's oldest extant wells. It was one of the few wells yielding good water in the area, the other main wells being located to the east in Doha. There is a wall and roof structure shielding the well, and there are two benches nearby.[7]

Another structure dating to 1935 is the Al Shagab Swimming Pool, which was built as part of a house in an area devoid of people at the time. During this period in Qatar, pools were exceedingly rare. The pool occupies a rectangular space of by . There are also two other pools attached to the residence.[8]

Transport

The underground Al Shaqab station currently serves the Green Line of the Doha Metro.[9] It is located on Huwar Street in Old Al Rayyan, near its border with Al Shagub.[10] The station was opened to the public on 10 December, 2019 along with the other Green Line stations.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Al Shagub, Zone 52, Qatar on the Elevation Map. elevationmap.net. 2 January 2019.
  2. Web site: District Area Map. Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. 12 February 2019.
  3. Web site: 2015 Population census. Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. April 2015. 1 July 2018. 17 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160717042254/http://www.mdps.gov.qa/en/knowledge/Publications/Population/Population2015.pdf. dead.
  4. Web site: 'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol. II. Geographical and Statistical. J G Lorimer. 1908' [1528] (1643/2084)]. Qatar Digital Library. 6 July 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. Web site: GIS Portal. Ministry of Municipality and Environment. 1 July 2018.
  6. Web site: A five-star resort for horses: Qatar's Al Shaqab equestrian center. CNN. Barry Neild. 20 March 2018. 1 July 2018.
  7. Book: Jaidah. Ibrahim. Bourennane. Malika. The History of Qatari Architecture 1800-1950. Skira. 2010. 322. 978-8861307933.
  8. Book: Jaidah. Ibrahim. Bourennane. Malika. The History of Qatari Architecture 1800-1950. Skira. 2010. 324. 978-8861307933.
  9. Web site: QAR Metro. arcgis.com. 16 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191204130524/https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=d7bdb1a6c8374913a8b98292194b187c. 4 December 2019. dead.
  10. Web site: Plan My Journey Map. Qatar Rail. 6 December 2019.
  11. Web site: All Doha Metro lines open for public. The Peninsula. 10 December 2019. 10 December 2019.