Al Ghuwariyah

Etymology

Two suggestions have been put forth for the origin of Al Ghuwariyah's name. The first states that it is derived from alghar, the Arabic term for the laurel family of plants. This is considered unlikely as this family of plants is not found in Qatar. The more plausible explanation is that the name derives from the Arabic word ghar, which translates to "cave". This is lent credence by the presence of two prominent caves nearby.

History

An entry for Al Ghuwariyah can be found in J. G. Lorimer's 1908 Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. He describes it as a nomadic camping ground 12 mi south-west of Al Huwaila and mentions a nearby masonry well, 8 fathoms deep, that yields good water.

Based on field work carried out by anthropologist Henry Field in the 1950s, the main tribe in the area of Al Ghuwariyah were the Al Jafali tribe. Starting in 1960, the government made a concerted effort to settle the country's nomadic tribes, relocating members of the Na'im tribe here as it sat on the boundary of their tribal territory.

After Qatar started to receive substantial profits from its oil extraction activities in the 1960s and 1970s, the government launched several housing projects for its citizens. As part of this initiative, 55 houses were built in Al Ghuwariyah by 1976. In 1986, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs opened a municipal office in Al Ghuwariyah.

According to the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, there were about 65 total households within the town limits in 2014.

Administration

Al Ghuwariyah Municipality

Al Ghuwariyah was a municipality until 2004, when it was merged with Al Khor. It did not administer over any other census-designated cities or towns except for itself.

In 2004 census, out of a population of 2,159, the number of Muslims amounted to 1,666, Christians amounted to 52.

;Registered live births The following table is a breakdown of registered live births by nationality and sex for Al Ghuwariyah. Places of birth are based on the home municipality of the mother at birth.

|}

Local government

After free elections of the Central Municipal Council first took place in Qatar in 1999, Al Ghuwariyah was designated the seat of constituency no. 29. It would remain the headquarters of constituency no. 29 for the next three consecutive elections until the fifth municipal elections in 2015, when it was proclaimed the seat of constituency no. 28. Also included in its constituency is part of Al Suwaihliya, Umm Al Maa, Al Daoudiyah, Ain Al Nuaman, south Zubarah, Ain Sinan, and Abu Al Seneem.

In the inaugural municipal elections in 1999, Nasser Abdullah Al Kaabi won the elections, receiving 66.1%, or 115 votes. In second place was Mubarak Abdullah Al-Nuaimi, whose share of the votes was 29.3%, or 51 votes. Voter turnout was 87%. Al Kaabi retained his seat in the 2002 and 2007 elections. In 2011, Al Kaabi lost his seat to Saeed Mubarak Al Rashedi, who retained his seat in the 2015 elections.

The Al Ghuwariyah office of the Al Khor Municipality is headed by Nasser Al Nuaimi as of 2017.

Healthcare

Al Ghuwariyah's first health center was opened in July 2015.

Planned developments

In March 2017, the director of Al Ghuwariyah, Nasser Al Naimi, announced a major plan to upgrade the infrastructure of Al Ghuwariyah. The plan intends on improving the sewage, street maintenance and lighting of the town and adding additional sidewalks and pedestrian crossings.

Visitor attractions

Al Ghuwariyah Family Park was opened in 2017. Occupying an area of 9,234 sq meters, facilities include a playground with seating, bathrooms and a guard office.

Education

References

References

1. "District Area Map". Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics.
2. (May 2021). "Suburban Subway". KU Leuven Faculty of Architecture blog.
3. "Municipalities of Qatar". Statoids.
4. "GIS Portal". Ministry of Municipality and Environment.
5. "'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol. II. Geographical and Statistical. J G Lorimer. 1908' [1519] (1634/2084)". Qatar Digital Library.
6. (1993). "Bedouins of Qatar". Thames & Hudson.
7. (1993). "Bedouins of Qatar". Thames & Hudson.
8. (1976). "Qatar Year Book: 1976". Press and Publications Department, Ministry of Information.
9. (4 March 1986). "افتتاح مكتبين للخدمات: البلدية بالغويرية وجريان البطنة". Al Raya.
10. Paul Sillitoe. (1 August 2014). "Sustainable Development: An Appraisal from the Gulf Region". Berghahn Books.
11. "2004 population census". Qatar Statistics Authority.
12. (March 2004). "Population By Religion, Gender And Municipality March 2004". Municipality of Development Planning and Statistics.
13. "Home page". Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics.
14. (September 1985). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1984". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
15. (June 1986). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1985". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
16. (June 1987). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1986". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
17. (June 1988). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1987". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
18. (June 1989). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1988". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
19. (May 1990). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1989". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
20. (May 1991). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1990". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
21. (June 1992). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1991". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
22. (June 1993). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1992". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
23. (April 1994). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1993". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
24. (May 1996). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1995". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
25. (June 1997). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1996". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
26. (June 1998). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1997". Central Statistical Organization (Qatar).
27. (June 1999). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1998". The Planning Council of the General Secretariat.
28. (July 2000). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 1999". The Planning Council of the General Secretariat.
29. (April 2001). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 2000". The Planning Council of the General Secretariat.
30. (June 2002). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 2001". The Planning Council of the General Secretariat.
31. (June 2003). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 2002". The Planning Council of the General Secretariat.
32. (April 2004). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 2003". The Planning Council of the General Secretariat.
33. (June 2005). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 2004". The Planning Council of the General Secretariat.
34. (September 2006). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 2005". The Planning Council of the General Secretariat.
35. (August 2007). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 2006". Qatar Statistics Authority.
36. (July 2008). "Vital Statistics Annual Bulletin (Births & Deaths): 2007". Qatar Statistics Authority.
37. "Central Municipal Council". Government Communications Office of Qatar.
38. "إنتخابات الدورة الأولى". Central Municipal Council.
39. "مقـار الدوائـر". Ministry of Interior (Qatar).
40. "الدورة الثانية". Central Municipal Council.
41. "إنتخابات الدورة الثالثة". Central Municipal Council.
42. "رابعاً: إنتخابات الدورة الرابعة كشف بأسماء السادة المرشحين الفائزين في عضوية انتخابات المجلس البلدي المركزي (الدورة الرابعة - 2011م)". Central Municipal Council.
43. (17 March 2017). "توزيع "29" محلاً تجارياً في الغويرية". Al Watan.
44. (6 July 2015). "بالصور.. وزير الصحة يفتتح مبنى مركز لغويرية الصحي الجديد". Al Sharq.
45. (9 April 2017). "افتتاح حديقة الغويرية للعائلات ببلدية الخور والذخيرة". Ministry of Municipality and Environment.
46. "Qatari Schools". Supreme Education Council.