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{{Infobox Settlement |name = Al Khorrrr |other_name =al kharia |native_name =الخور [[[ |nickname = |settlement_type = Town |motto = |image_skyline = Al Khor Beach.jpg |imagesize = 300px |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |pushpin_map =Qatar |pushpin_label_position =above |pushpin_mapsize =300 |pushpin_map_caption =Location in Qatar |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name =  Qatar |subdivision_type1 = Municipality |subdivision_name1 = Al Khawr Municipality |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = | |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |established_title = |established_date = |area_magnitude = |unit_pref =Imperial |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = |area_land_km2 = |population_as_of =2008 est. |population_footnotes =^[1] |population_note = |population_total =31,547 |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title =Ethnicities |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |timezone = AST |utc_offset = +3 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |latd=25|latm=41|lats=24 |latNS=N |longd=51|longm=30|longs=36|longEW=E |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = |blank_info = |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes = }}

Al Khor is a coastal town in northern Qatar, located 50 kilometers north of the capital, Doha. The name of the town means creek in Arabic as the town is located on a creek. Al Khor is home to many employees of the oil industry due to its proximity to Qatar's northern oil and natural gas fields, and due to its proximity to the Ras Laffan Industrial City.

History

Al Khor was ruled by the Al Mohanadi tribe before the independence of Qatar in 1971 and continues to be today. It is believed that the Al Mohanadi tribe who live in Al Khor was formed in the late 19th century. The tribe consists of 7 Bedouin families. Nowadays, the majority of Al-Khor's citizens are from that tribe.

Sights

Al Khor is known with Al-Sultan beach hotel & resort, a palace that turned into a hotel, and for its large concentration of modern and historical mosques. The main industry of the city is fishing. There are several excellent beaches surrounding Al Khor, and the beaches south of it are home to many beach houses owned by both residents of the city and residents of Doha.

Facilities

Due to the continuous expansion at Ras Laffan Industrial City the number of facilities and services available in the town is rapidly increasing. Currently they include:

• Al Khor General Hospital
• Medical Center
• Police and Fire stations
• Vehicle testing center
• Traffic department
• An air field
• A driving school
• An assortment of small and medium sized shops (these include opticians, pharmacies, tailors,supermarkets, a coop etc)
• A growing number of restaurants and fast food stores
• A small industrial area

Currently Al Khor's first shopping mall is under construction

References

Coordinates: 25°41′N 51°31′E / 25.69°N 51.51°E / 25.69; 51.51

From Wikitravel

The Corniche at Al-Khor

Al-Khor (alternatively spelled Al Khawr) is a city in Qatar. The city is far older than Doha, but much smaller (the population is roughly 31,000). It used to be the center of the now non-existent pearl trading industry, so now the city is undergoing renovation.

Get in

Al-Khor is about 50 kilometers north of Doha, reached by either the North Road to Al-Ruweis, or by the Coast Road that goes past the racing track that hosts the Doha Moto GP race.

See

Near the Corniche is a museum (not always open) and a port containing many fishing boats.

The other major attractions of Al-Khor are its numerous watchtowers, which you will see near the Corniche and also on the road coming in if you have taken the North Road, and its laid-back atmosphere, especially when compared with the traffic of Doha.

Do

Al-Khor is a pleasant and quiet town, and though its Corniche cannot match Doha's in beauty, it does offer a nice enough place to relax and sunbathe, or play beach volleyball or cricket if you feel like being a little more active. There are plenty of shady places to sit near the sand, but you can't swim in the bay here as, like much of Qatar, the water is too shallow.

Eat

There are several places to eat in Al-Khor. The cafeteria near the port offers decent burgers and a soft drink for a very cheap QR3.