Fereej Al Asmakh
Fereej Al Asmakh
فريج عبد العزيز | |
|---|---|
District | |
 Al Maamoun Street in Fereej Al Asmakh | |
  Fereej Al Asmakh  Fereej Al Asmakh | |
| Coordinates: 25°16′50″N 51°32′00″E / 25.280442°N 51.533298°E | |
| Country |  Qatar |
| Municipality | Ad-Dawhah |
| Zone | Zone 5 |
| District no. | 7 |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.77 km2 (0.30 sq mi) |
Fereej Al Asmakh (Arabic: فريج الأصمخ, romanized: Farīj al-'Aṣmakh) is a Qatari district located in the municipality of Ad Dawhah. Administratively, it is part of Zone 5, along with Al Najada and Barahat Al Jufairi.[2][3]
It is one of the smaller and older districts of Doha. As such, the district is considered as a good example of Qatar's cultural identity, which has led to several development programs by the government to rehabilitate its dilapidated structures.[4]
Etymology
[edit]In Arabic, fereej translates to "neighborhood", while the Al-Asmakh portion of the name refers to one of the area's first major landowners.[5]
History
[edit]Fereej Al Asmakh is one of Doha's oldest districts, containing architecture characteristic of Qatari urban life in the first half of the 20th century. As part of the Doha Central District development project, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has undertaken a large-scale restoration program to preserve and rehabilitate the area, beginning in 2024. The initiative, divided into three zones, includes the conservation of historic structures such as Doha Palace, Amna bint Wahab School, Sheikh Fahad's Palace, the Cultural Gallery, and several traditional residences and mosques.[6]
The project incorporates traditional construction techniques, such as wooden beams and palm fronds for roofing, alongside modern reinforcements to ensure durability. Streets and alleys have been repaved with granite, and open squares have been enhanced with new lighting and landscaping. Located adjacent to tourist attractions such as Souq Waqif, Al Najada, and Msheireb Downtown Doha, the district is intended to serve as a similarly-themed tourist destination.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "District Area Map". Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "2010 population census" (PDF). Qatar Statistics Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
- ^ "District map". The Centre for Geographic Information Systems of Qatar. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ Djamel Boussaa (18 March 2014). "Al Asmakh historic district in Doha, Qatar: from an urban slum to living heritage". Journal of Architectural Conservation. 20 (1): 2–15. doi:10.1080/13556207.2014.888815. S2CID 109736065. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ^ Fletcher, Richard; Carter, Robert A. (12 May 2017). "Mapping the Growth of an Arabian Gulf Town: the case of Doha, Qatar" (PDF). Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient. 60 (4): 25. doi:10.1163/15685209-12341432. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Development and restoration works progressing at Fereej Al Asmakh". Gulf Times. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
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