Umm Al Houl
Umm Al Houl is an industrial district in Qatar located in the municipality of Al Wakrah. To the north of Umm Al Houl is the city of Al Wakrah while Mesaieed is to the south.
The government has designated the district as a free economic zone starting in early 2019. Qatar's largest seaport, Hamad Port, is located here.
Etymology
The first constituent, umm, is the Arabic word for "mother" and is a common prefix used to denote geographical features. Houl is an Arabic term reserved for a type of snare. Historically, birds of considerable size were commonly caught here using traps, lending the area its name.History
In 1895 the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi attempted to claim it as his western frontier but his claim was rejected by his superiors in the British government.J.G. Lorimer's Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf gives an account of Umm Al Houl in 1908, referring to it as "Dohat Umm al-Hūl" and giving its location as 5 miles south of Al Wakrah. He goes on to state:
Geography
Strategically located in Qatar's southeastern region to the immediate north of the Mesaieed Industrial Area and approximately south of Hamad International Airport, the area was chosen as a maritime hub for its suitable geography and close proximity to Qatar's industrial and economic centers.Umm Al Houl constitutes a part of the Mesaieed Sabkha, the largest sabkha formation in the country. This area is characterized by a unique microbial mat system consisting of two to three separate mats, each covering approximately. These mats are permanently isolated from direct seawater contact by substantial sand dunes.
The hydrology of Umm Al Houl demonstrates significant seasonal variations. During winter, the mats are consistently submerged under seawater with a salinity of about 5%, primarily sourced from seepage from the adjacent Persian Gulf, with minimal contribution from rainfall. The water depth averages around, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 26°C in December. Summer conditions see the mats remain inundated, albeit with shallower water depths and significantly increased salinity, often exceeding 13% due to high evaporation rates. Water temperatures can surpass 33°C, coinciding with air temperatures that can exceed 47°C.