Umm Birka derives its name from the Arabicwordbarikat, which means "blessing". It was named in reference to a localdepression that would fill with water during the rainy season.
History
During the winter months, residents of nearby towns such as Al Thakhira and Al Khor traditionally traveled to Umm Birka to graze their livestock and collect wild grasses due to its relative abundance of vegetation. This included species such as samma, daqiqah, and thumam, which were valued for their suitability as fodder.