Al Wajbah (Arabic: الوجبة) is a district in Qatar, located in the municipality of Al Rayyan.[3] It lies 10 miles (16 km) west of the capital Doha. The village was the site of the Battle of Al Wajbah, an armed conflict between the Ottomans and the Qatari tribes in 1893. It was blockaded by the Ottomans in March 1893.[4] The main encounter took place later that month in the village's Al Wajbah Fort.
Al Wajbah
الوجبة | |
|---|---|
District | |
 Historic Al Wajbah Fort | |
  Al Wajbah | |
| Coordinates: 25°18′03″N 51°23′40″E / 25.30083°N 51.39444°E | |
| Country |  Qatar |
| Municipality | Al Rayyan |
| Zone | Zone 53 |
| District no. | 66 |
| Area | |
• Total | 24.2 km2 (9.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 35 m (115 ft) |
Etymology
edit"Wajbah" is the local pronunciation of the Arabic word "waqb", which means "hole". Since the area is built on a rawda (depression), the sunken surface resembles a large hole, earning it its name.[5]
History
editIn J.G. Lorimer's Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, the town was stated to have accommodated a walled garden with a fort and a mosque in 1908, all of which were owned by a member of the ruling family. It was also described as a Bedouin encampment site which contained three 40-feet deep masonry wells yielding good water.[6]
Landmarks
edit- Al Wajbah Fort on Dukhan Road.[7]
- Al Wajbah Medical Centre on Al Qalaa Street.
- Al Wajbah Food Centre on New Rayyan Street.
Al Wajbah Fort
editIt is unknown exactly when Al Wajbah Fort was built, but it is thought to date back either to the late 18th century or the 19th century. It was the site of the Battle of Al Wajbah between Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani and the Ottoman Empire.[8]
Rectangular in shape, the fortress measures 34 meters in length and 19 meters in width, boasting four towers—two round and two rectangular. While the round towers feature serrated upper platforms and shooting openings, the rectangular ones lack such features. Drainage systems integrated into the fortress walls efficiently manage rainwater runoff.[8]
Constructed primarily from hard limestone and clay, the fortress walls are plastered with gypsum. Inside, nineteen rooms on the lower level and upper chambers within the towers once served various purposes, including housing, worship, and assembly. Despite unauthorized modifications in the past, efforts in 1990 by the Department of Museums and Archaeology restored the fortress to its original state, removing alterations and reinforcing structural integrity.[8]
Healthcare
editThe Al Wajbah Medical Centre opened its doors in May 2018.[9] Residents of Al Shagub, Umm Al Jawashin, Al Rayyan Al Jadeed, Muaither, Rawdat Al-Nasser, Maqroon, Muraikh, and Fereej Al Zaeem are eligible to register. Clinics found in the centre include a psychological support clinic, a dermatology clinic, a dental health clinic and a physical therapy clinic. Also found within the centre are ultrasound machines, a pharmacy and a laboratory. Aside from medical services, the centre boasts a gym, a swimming pool and a sauna.[10]
Education
editThe following schools are located in Al Wajbah:
| Name of School | Curriculum | Grade | Genders | Official Website | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Wajba Preparatory Girls School | Qatari | Secondary | Female-only | N/A | [11] |
| Doha College - Al Wajbah | British | Kindergarten – Secondary | Both | Official website | [12] |
References
edit- ^ "District Area Map". Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "Al Wajba, Zone 53, Qatar on the Elevation Map". elevationmap.net. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ "2010 population census" (PDF). Qatar Statistics Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ Zahlan, Rosemarie Said (1979). The creation of Qatar (print ed.). Barnes & Noble Books. p. 53. ISBN 978-0064979658.
- ^ "District map". The Centre for Geographic Information Systems of Qatar. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
- ^ "'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol. II. Geographical and Statistical. J G Lorimer. 1908' [1529] (1644/2084)". Qatar Digital Library. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
- ^ "Dalila Services". Ministry of Municipality and Environment. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
- ^ a b c Mohammad Jassim Al-Kholaifi (2006). Traditional Architecture in Qatar. Doha: National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage. pp. 39–41.
- ^ "Prime Minister opens Muaither and Al Wajba health and wellness centers". The Peninsula. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "PHCC opens registration for Al Wajba Health Centre". Gulf Times. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "Al Wajba Preparatory Girls School". schoolsinqatar.net. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Cristina Ionascu (26 June 2018). "Doha College officially breaks ground at new Al Wajba campus". Doha College. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
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