Umm Al Daah Khawzan (Arabic: ام الداه خوزان; also known simply as Khawzan) is a village in Qatar located in the municipality of Al-Shahaniya. It is accessible through Dukhan Road.[1] The closest city is the industrial hub of Dukhan.[2] According to the Ministry of Environment, there were about six households in the village in 2014.[3]

Umm Al Daah Khawzan
ام الداه خوزان
Village
Sign for Khawzan on Khawzan Road
Sign for Khawzan on Khawzan Road
Umm Al Daah Khawzan is located in Qatar
Umm Al Daah Khawzan
Umm Al Daah Khawzan
Location in Qatar
Coordinates: 25°28′43″N 50°56′22″E / 25.47861°N 50.93944°E / 25.47861; 50.93944
Country Qatar
MunicipalityAl-Shahaniya
ZoneZone 72

Etymology edit

There are three constituents of the village's name. The first, "umm", is Arabic for mother, and is a common prefix in Qatar when preceding a geographical description. "Daah" is the local name for a shrub, Latin name Lasiurus hirsutus, that grows abundantly in the area. Growing regularly throughout the whole of southern Qatar, it presents a slightly yellow color, and is consumed by grazing livestock.[2]

Finally, the village derived the name "Khawzan" from a local depression called Rawdat Khawzan. In Arabic, "khazan" roughly means "reservoir". The depression was an important water reservoir for nearby settlements, being capable of storing water for months after rainy season.[2]

Geography edit

Umm Al Daah Khawzan is close to Ras Abrouq on the Zekreet Peninsula, which hosts the majority of Qatar's ostriches and is part of the Al Reem Biosphere Reserve. Ostriches have occasionally wandered into the village and harassed its residents.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "طريق دخان يشكو غياب الخدمات الأساسية" (in Arabic). Al Sharq. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "GIS Portal". Ministry of Municipality and Environment. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  3. ^ Paul Sillitoe (1 August 2014). Sustainable Development: An Appraisal from the Gulf Region. Berghahn Books. p. 230. ISBN 9781782383727.
  4. ^ "النعام يفرض الإقامة الجبرية على سكان زكريت وأم القهاب" (in Arabic). Al Raya. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2018.