Madinat Khalifa South (Arabic: مدينه خليفه الجنوبيه, romanized: Madīnat Khalīfah al Janūbīyah) is a north-western district of Qatari capital Doha. It is one of the two sections of Madinat Khalifa, the other being Madinat Khalifa North.[1] The district was constructed in the 1970s by the Emir of Qatar at the time, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, primarily to serve as a residential district for Qatari families.[2] Shortages of affordable housing in the district have fueled illegal construction practices such as constructing additional floors.[3]
Madinat Khalifa South
مدينه خليفه الجنوبيه | |
|---|---|
District | |
 Al Rayyan Road in Madinat Khalifa South | |
  Madinat Khalifa South  Madinat Khalifa South | |
| Coordinates: 25°18′56″N 51°28′51″E / 25.3156°N 51.4808°E | |
| Country |  Qatar |
| Municipality | Ad-Dawhah |
| Zone | Zone 34 |
| District no. | 32 |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.6 km2 (1.0 sq mi) |
| Population (2004) | |
• Total | 19,821 |
| • Density | 7,600/km2 (20,000/sq mi) |
Etymology
editIn Arabic, "madinat" means city. The second part of the name was received from Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, who was emir of Qatar from 1972 to 1995 and who oversaw the district's development. Finally, the "south" component is used to differentiate from the Madinat Khalifa North district. The Qatari government sometimes refers to the district as Madinat Khalifa Al Janoubiya, preferring the Arabic term for "south".[4]
Areas
editGaza
editThe Gaza area of Madinat Khalifa South was named in honor of the Gaza Strip in Palestine. Presently, the area is used primarily for laborers. It contains a wealth of historic architecture. Like most other historic areas in Doha's districts, its streets are narrow and its houses are densely packed together.[5]
Landmarks
edit
The Traffic Department is headquartered in between Madinat Khalifa South and Madinat Khalifa North. Geographically, it is in Madinat Khalifa South, although the Ministry of Municipality and Environment lists its address as Madinat Khalifa North.[6] In May 2013, a new headquarters for the Traffic Department, equipped with 106 counters, was established across the street from the old building.[7]
Four parks are located here:[6]
- Madinat Khalifa Park on Al Makhzoumi Street.
- Al Marroona Park was inaugurated in 1982 and is located on Ibn Sireen Street. Spanning an area of 11,173 m2, the park has limited facilities and only hosts seven tree species.[8]
- Al Huwaila Park, located on Khalifa School Street, was established in 2005 over an area 11,172 m2. Primarily catering to families, the park contains a playground, basketball court and shaded seating. Over 25 species of trees can be observed in the park.[9]
- Al Yousufiya Park on Sahat Al Ghafat Street.
Health
editIndian company Parco Healthcare opened a health center in the district in March 2016.[10] Kayyali Group Clinic on Jassim bin Hamad Street is the district's second clinic. Al Arabi X-Ray and Medical Lab Center is the district's only medical laboratory. The two dental clinics in the area are the Lebanese Qatar Dental Speciality Complex on Al Jazira Al Arabiya Street and The Queen Dental Center on Al Idreesi Street.[6]
Religion
editThere are 17 public mosques in the district. Religious instruction is provided through the Islamic Da'wa and Guidance Center on Al Jazira Al Arabiya Street.[6]
Education
edit
The following schools are located in Madinat Khalifa South:
| Name of School | Curriculum | Grade | Genders | Official Website | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalifa Independent Secondary School for Boys | Independent | Secondary | Male-only | N/A | [11] |
| Qatar Primary Independent School for Girls | Independent | Kindergarten – Primary | Female-only | N/A | [12] |
Transport
editMowasalat is the official transport company in Qatar and serves the community through its operation of public bus routes. Madinat Khalifa South is served by three bus lines, all of which depart from Al Ghanim Bus Station.[13] Route 55 has stops at Fereej Bin Omran and Madinat Khalifa South and a terminus at Madinat Khalifa Bus Stop near the Immigration Department, running at a frequency of every 30 minutes on all days of the week. Route 56 has stops at Rumeilah Hospital and Madinat Khalifa South and a terminus at New Al Gharrafa, also running at frequency of every 30 minutes on all days of the week. Route 156 has also has stops at Rumeilah Hospital and Madinat Khalifa South but has a terminus at Al Kharaitiyat Bus Station, and likewise runs at a frequency of every 30 minutes on all days of the week.[13][14]
Major roads that run through the district are Al Jazira Al Arabiya Street, Jassim Bin Hamad Street, 22 February Street, and Khalifa Street.[15]
Currently, the underground Madinat Khalifa Metro Station is under construction, having been launched during Phase 2A. Once completed, it will be part of Doha Metro's Green Line. It is located to the east from the Madinat Khalifa North Metro station.[16]
References
edit- ^ "Census information". geohive.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ^ Qatar Year Book: 1982. Doha: Press and Publications Department, Ministry of Information. 1982. p. 21.
- ^ "Doha: Housing shortage fuels illegal building". Construction Week Online. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ "District map". The Centre for Geographic Information Systems of Qatar. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ "Buildings in Gaza area of Madinat Khalifa face demolition". Qatar Tribune. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Qatar Landmarks". Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Ayman Adly (29 May 2013). "Faster service' at Traffic Department's new headquarters". Gulf Times. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ Mohammed Al Khoury (March 2017). "حدائق قطر" [Parks in Qatar] (PDF) (in Arabic). Public Parks Department of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. p. 20. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^ Mohammed Al Khoury (March 2017). "حدائق قطر" [Parks in Qatar] (PDF) (in Arabic). Public Parks Department of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. p. 14. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^ "Parco health centre opens tomorrow". The Peninsula. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ "Khalifa Secondary Independent Boys". Ministry of Education And Higher Education. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ "Qatar Primary Independent Girls". Ministry of Education And Higher Education. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ a b "Route Maps". Qatar Transit Guide. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
- ^ "Qatar Public Transport Program (QPTP)". Ministry of Transport and Communications. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
- ^ "Index map of Qatar". ArcGIS.com. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ "QAR Metro". arcgis.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.