Simaisma

Simaisma سُمَيْسِمَة
Town
Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Far view of Simaisma's coastline, Overhead view of the landscape surrounding Simaisma, Light roadside vegetation in a residential area, Mosque minaret standing out in a residential area
Simaisma
Coordinates: 25°34′29″N 51°29′11″E
Country	Qatar
Municipality	Al Khor
Zone	Zone 74
District no.	269
Area [1]
• Total	6.6 km^2 (2.5 sq mi)

Simaisma (Arabic: سُمَيْسِمَة; also spelled Sumaysimah) is a small seaside town located on the eastern coast of Qatar 30 km north of the capital Doha.[2][3] The town is characterized by old houses and mosques that are relics from the days before the discovery of oil and natural gas in Qatar.

It was demarcated in 1988.[4] Small clusters of mangroves dot its coastline.[5] Geographically, it is located in the municipality of Al Daayen, but administratively, it is a part of Al Khor.

History

Simaisma was also the location of a battle fought in 1768 between Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa the Chief of Zubarah and the Musalam clan who were based at Freiha. The cause of the Battle of Simaisma was Shaikh Mohamed's refusal to pay taxes to the Al Musalam after he built his castle. The Al Musalam were defeated and soon their power waned as a result of this devastation.^[citation needed]

J.G. Lorimer's Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf gives an account of Simaisma in 1908:

A walled village on the east coast of Qatar, situated at the bottom of a small bay about midway between Lusail and Al Khor. One mile east of it, at the southern point of the same bay, is the village of Al Daayen, with which it is intimately connected. Sumaismah is inhabited by about 250 families of the Al Bu Kuwarah [Kuwari] tribe, and there are also a few Kibisah [Qubaisi]. There are 50 pearl boats [manned by 600 men] here, also 10 other sea-going vessels and 10 fishing boats. Livestock include 6 horses and 70 camels. Drinking water is obtained from the wells of 'Awainat Bin-Husain, 4 miles to the westward: near the village there is also a small well called Khariqat Sumaismah, but its water is bitter.[6]

• 
  The historic Uwaynat bin Hussain water well near Simaisma.

In an earlier 1904 transcript of Lorimer's Gazetteer, he remarks that in 1883, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani "wished, or pretended he wished, to settle here".[7]

One of the town's landmarks is Simaisma Mosque, constructed in 1938. It is one of the oldest surviving mosques in Qatar. Aside from its minaret and prayer room, it also housed a madrasa, which provided Islamic instruction to young students.[8]

The historic practice of date syrup manufacturing, using a traditional date press called madbasa, was well-established in Simaisma, where they were known as al amara. However, as Qatar rapidly modernized throughout the 1950s and 1960s, many of these date presses have been abandoned or destroyed, with few remaining.[9]

Geography

Simaisma is situated on the eastern coast of Qatar. It forms the northernmost extension of the southern sector of Qatar's interior plain region. The area around Simaisma, as part of this southern sector, has a generally flat surface that gradually increases in elevation from towards the south and west, with heights ranging between 11 metres (36 ft) to 41 metres (135 ft).[10] Common vegetation found in Simaisma include mature shrubs of the Taverniera genus including aelijaan (Taverniera spartea)[11] and dahseer (Taverniera aegyptiaca).[12]

Attractions

A roundabout with shops.

Simaisma Beach

Known for its idyllic landscape, Simaisma Beach is a popular domestic tourist attraction. It is closely situated to the Al Simaisma Family Park and extends for a length of roughly 1 km.[13] Dozens shaded lounging areas are offered to visitors.[14] Roughly 39 hectares of mangroves are found just off the coast.[15]

Parks

Simaisma Family Park was established in 1991 over an area 5,099 m². Features of the park include a basketball court, football field and a playground. Landscaping consists of 11 species of seasonal shrubs and flowers, as well as three different species of palm trees.[16]

A recreational facility known as Simaisma Olympic Park was opened in June 2012.[17] Many facilities are found in the park, such as a football pitch, swimming pool, mosque, cafe and youth centre.[14]

Simaisma Resort

Murwab Hotel Group launched Simaisma Resort in February 2016. The resort has 52 villas and 4 restaurants.[18]

Simaisma Youth Centre

Simaisma has a youth centre, founded in November 2007 and formally inaugurated in June 2008.[19] Its Kashta exhibition opened on 18 October 2014. The exhibition showcases materials related to heritage, folk crafts and camping.[20]

Al Qarn House

Al Qarn House is a historic residence constructed on the beach in the 1950s by Sheikh Fahad bin Mohammed bin Thani Al Thani. Traditional building materials were used in its construction, including sea rocks used in the walls, and bamboo and mangrove poles used for structural support. In September 2023, the Department of Architectural Conservation completed its restoration of the residence.[21]

Transport

The main highway to Simaisma.

Simaisma is connected to the main highway in the municipality through Simaisma Road, a 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) carriageway.[22] There is no public transport in the town.[23]

The Simaisma Island Bridge is a 450 meter-long bridge connecting Simaisma's mainland to Simaisma Island.[24]

Education

The town's first formal school for boys was opened in 1957.[25] One year later, a school for girls was opened.[26] Simaisma's public schools only provide primary education. Students typically continue their secondary education in Al Khor.[23]

Sports

Simaisma hosted the first point of the final stage of the Tour of Al Zubarah in December 2015.[27] It also hosted part of the second stage of the 2016 Tour of Qatar.[28]

A small football stadium is located in the town which serves its amateur football team.[23] Simaisma FC won the non-professional Al Frjan League two times in a row in 2013 and 2014.[29]

Archaeology

Plaster vessels designed to resemble Ubaid pottery were found in Simaisma through an archaeological expedition. Also found in the town were two circular burial mounds dating to the 5th century B.C., the earliest burial sites yet discovered in Qatar.[30]

References

1. "District Area Map". Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
2. "2010 population census" (PDF). Qatar Statistics Authority. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
3. "District map". The Centre for Geographic Information Systems of Qatar. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
4. "Law No. 21 of 1988 On the Delimitation of the City of Sumaysima". almeezan.qa. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
5. "Simaisma Family Beach". Online Qatar. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
6. "'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol. II. Geographical and Statistical. J G Lorimer. 1908' [1844] (1967/2084)". Qatar Digital Library. Retrieved 28 July 2015. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
7. "'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part II: Geographical and descriptive materials, Section II: Western Side of the Gulf' [56v] (112/280)". Qatar Digital Library. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
8. "Simaisma mosque". Explore Qatar. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
9. Al Maashani, Musllam; Menon, Lakshmi Venugopal (May 2023). "Traditional Date Presses (madabis) in Qatar" (PDF). Gulf Studies Centre of Qatar University. p. 4. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
10. "طبوغرافية شبه جزيرة قطر" (in Arabic). Qatar Historical Encyclopedia. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
11. "Aelijaan". Qatar e-Nature. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
12. "Dahseer". Qatar e-Nature. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
13. "MME improves facilities at beaches for visitors' use". Qatar Tribune. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
14. Charlie Sands (May 2013). "Family Fun Days". Qatar Happening. p. 56. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
15. Mohammad Ahmad Shehadi (May 2015). "Vulnerability of mangroves to sea level rise in Qatar: Assessment and identification of vulnerable mangroves areas" (PDF) (Thesis). College of Arts and Sciences - Qatar University. p. 23. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
16. Mohammed Al Khoury (March 2017). "حدائق قطر" [Parks in Qatar] (PDF) (in Arabic). Public Parks Department of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. p. 460. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
17. "Simaisma Olympic Park Opened". Qatar Olympic Committee. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
18. Charmaine Fernz (5 February 2016). "Murwab unveils new oceanfront resort in Qatar". Travel Daily Media. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
19. "Youth Centers in Qatar". Ministry of Culture and Sports (Qatar). Retrieved 29 June 2018.
20. "Prime Minister tours travel, camping exhibition". Gulf Times. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
21. "House built in late '50s fully restored in Simaisma Beach". The Peninsula. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
22. "Detailed Design for North Road". Dar al-Handash Shair and Partners. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
23. "ســـميســمة المدينة الحالمة في أحضان البحر" (in Arabic). Al Watan. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
24. "The Island Bridge". UrbaCon Trading & Contracting. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
25. Abdulla Juma Kobaisi (1979). "The Development of Education in Qatar, 1950–1970" (PDF). Durham University. pp. 41–42. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
26. "تطور التعليم في مدينة الخور من بداية القرن العشرين حتى بداية الخمسينات منه ( التعليم الرسمي )" (in Arabic). Al Misnad School. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
27. "Palini, Revuelta get set for Tour of Zubarah". The Peninsula. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
28. Lesley Walker (8 February 2016). "Expect traffic diversions as Men's Tour of Qatar opens today". Doha News. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
29. "توج فريق سميسمة بطلاً لكأس فرجان قطر" (in Arabic). Al Maghrib Today. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
30. Richard Thorburn Howard Cuttler (2014). Human populations and former sub-aerial landscapes of the Arabian gulf: research and conservation (PDF) (Ph.D.). University of Birmingham. Retrieved 8 February 2016.