Al Qassar

Al Qassar (Arabic: القصار, romanized: Al Qaşşār; also spelled to as Al Gassar) is a seafront district on Qatar's eastern coast, located in the municipality of Ad Dawhah.^[2][3]

Al Qassar القصار
District
Aerial view of parts of Al Qassar 61 (left) and Al Qassar 66, separated by Katara Street, in 2010
Al Qassar Show map of Doha Al Qassar Show map of Qatar
Coordinates: 25.3509°N 51.5275°E / 25.3509; 51.5275
Country	Qatar
Municipality	Ad-Dawhah
Zone	Zone 61, Zone 66
District no.	106
Area [1]
• Total	2.8 km2 (1.1 sq mi)

In the 2015 census it formed Zone 61 with Al Dafna and Zone 66 with Onaiza and Leqtaifiya.^[2]

History

Al Qassar was built on land that was reclaimed in the 1970s and 1980s after extensive dredging. As part of a masterplan by the Qatari government, the entire area, which came to be known as West Bay, was to be developed as Qatar's new business center.^[4]

Etymology

In Arabic, qassar is a word used for small black rocks found around beaches. The district received its name because of its high concentration of these rocks.^[3]

Geography

Al Qassar borders the following districts:^[3]

• West Bay Lagoon and Onaiza to the west, separated by Lusail Street.
• The Pearl to the east, separated by the Persian Gulf.
• Al Dafna to the south, separated by Dafna Street.

Transport

Al Qassar is served by Al Qassar station which is part of the Red Line of the Doha Metro rapid transit system.^[5]

Archaeology

Al Qassar was found to have rock carvings of human and animals by an excavation team in 1979. Most of them have been eroded beyond recognition. Stone blocks containing still-recognizable carvings were cut off and transported to the Qatar National Museum for preservation.^[6]

One petroglyph, which contains two different panels carved by more than one individual, depicts two horse riders and a camel. The riders, one behind the other, are holding lances in their upraised hands. The second rider appears to be chasing the first, as his lance is pointed towards the other rider's back.^[7] The figure of the second rider is leaning in a forward position, with the lance projecting from his upper body. In front of the riders is a camel with incomplete body features. Archaeologist Muhammad Abdul Nayeem tentatively dated the carving to the second millennium BC.^[8]

Gallery

• 
  View from the St. Regis Hotel in Al Qassar