| Municipalities of Qatar | |
| Category: | Unitary state |
| Territory: | State of Qatar |
| Current Number: | 8 Municipalities |
| Population Range: | 8,794 (Al Shamal) – 956,457 (Doha) |
| Area Range: | 78.3order=flipNaNorder=flip (Doha) – 1277.6order=flipNaNorder=flip (Al-Shahaniya) |
| Government: | Municipality government, National government |
| Subdivision: | Zones |
Since 2015, Qatar has been divided into eight municipalities.[1] In 2004, a new municipality, Al Daayen, was created under Resolution No. 13,[2] formed from parts of Umm Salal and Al Khawr; at the same time, Al Ghuwariyah was merged with Al Khawr; Al Jumaliyah was merged with Ar Rayyan; Jarayan al Batnah was split between Al Rayyan and Al Wakrah; and Mesaieed was merged with Al Wakrah.[3] In 2014, the western city of Al-Shahaniya split off from Al Rayyan Municipality to form its own municipality.[4]
For statistical purposes, the municipalities are further subdivided into 98 zones (as of 2015), which are in turn subdivided into districts and blocks, the latter being the lowest subdivision.[5]
According to Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning,[6] in 1963, the first municipality was the Municipality of Qatar, created under Law No. 11. Later in the same year, its name was changed to Municipality of Doha by Law No. 15. Then, on 17 July 1972, Ar Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Al Khawr and Dhekra, Ash Shamal, and Umm Salal municipalities created under Resolution No.11. In 1997, Umm Sa'id municipality formed from parts of Al Wakrah (former HASC code QA.WA, FIPS code QA05) and Jariyan al Batnah (QA.JB, QA07).
In 2004, Al Daayen municipality created under Resolution No. 13. Judging from maps of the municipalities before and after this change, Al Daayen was formed from parts of Umm Salal and Al Khawr; at the same time, Al Ghuwariyah merged with Al Khawr; Al Jumaliyah merged with Ar Rayyan; and Jarayan al Batnah was split between Ar Rayyan and Al Wakrah.
In 2014, the western city of Al-Shahaniya was dissociated from Al Rayyan Municipality to form its own municipality. Integrating approximately 35% of Al Rayyan's area into the new municipality, some of Al Rayyan's western localities such as Al Gharbiam, Al Utouriya, Al Jemailiya, Umm Bab, Rawdat Rashed, Al Nasraniya, Dukhan and Al Khurayb were also included in the new municipality.[4]
| Key | Municipality (Baladiyah) | بلدية | Population (2015) ! | Area (km2) | Area (mi2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arabic: الشمال | 8,794 | 859.8 | 331.9 | ||
| 2 | Arabic: الخور | 202,031 | 1,613.3 | 622.8 | ||
| 3 | Arabic: الشحانية | 187,571 | 3,309.0 | 1,277.6 | ||
| 4 | Arabic: أم صلال | 90,835 | 318.4 | 122.9 | ||
| 5 | Arabic: الضعاين | 54,339 | 290.2 | 112.0 | ||
| 6 | Ad Dawhah (Doha) | Arabic: الدوحة | 956,457 | 202.7 | 78.3 | |
| 7 | Arabic: الريان | 605,712 | 2,450 | 946.0 | ||
| 8 | Arabic: الوكرة | 299,037 | 2,577.7 | 995.2 | ||
| Dawlat Qatar | دولة قطر | 2,404,776 | 11,621.1 | 4,486.7 |