Fuwayrit

Fuwayrit
فويرط
Village
A view of Fuwayrit's beach
Fuwayrit
Fuwayrit
Coordinates: 26°1′18″N 51°22′1″E / 26.02167°N 51.36694°E / 26.02167; 51.36694Coordinates: 26°1′18″N 51°22′1″E / 26.02167°N 51.36694°E / 26.02167; 51.36694
Country Qatar
Municipality Ash Shamal

Fuwayrit (Arabic: فويرط‎) is a coastal village in Qatar, located in the municipality of Ash Shamal approximately 90 km north of the capital Doha.[1] It is an important site for Qatar's oil industry. Archaeological evidence suggests that it may have been settled as early as the 16th century.[2] Previously, it was one of the most important towns in the northern sector of Qatar, having served as the seat of power for the Al Thani who had migrated to it during the 18th century, prior to relocating to Al Bidda (presently Doha).

Etymology

Fuwayrit is derived from the Arabic word 'farat' (or 'fart'), meaning to advance or to progress. This name was chosen in reference a man who left his tribe in Fuwayrit by boat.[3]

History

18th century

According to family tradition, the Al Thani family migrated from Zubarah, previously Qatar's largest town, to Fuwayrit some time in the late 1700s.[4]

19th century

1828–1829 conflict

Coastline of Fuwayrit

In 1828–1829, a conflict emerged between the inhabitants of Fuwayrit and Doha after natives of Fuwayrit robbed a family with close ties to the Al Thani family. A nephew of Thani bin Mohammed named Khalfan bin Khalfan inherited a large sum of money after his father, a wealthy tawash (pearl trader), died. Khalfan's mother gave Thani the inheritance to invest it on her son's behalf. When Khalfan became an adult, Thani distributed the money, which now amounted to a fortune, to Khalfan, and his son, Mohammed bin Thani.[5] Khalfan soon opened a business in Fuwayrit. Tensions arose between envious local residents and Khalfan, and this culminated in Khalfan being robbed of all his money.[6]

Having been robbed of his money, he appealed to Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, a Bahraini representative stationed in Qatar, but he had little interest in Khalfan's protests because he was preoccupied with the recent death of his brother, Salman. A man named Ali bin Amr Al Attiyah was present during Khalfan's appeal and promised to help him on account of a tribal alliance. They went to Doha where they were successful in receiving volunteers from the Bani Malik, Al Soudan, and Al Suluta tribes.[6] The coalition forces departed from Doha and traveled to Fuwayrit via boat. Upon hearing of the forces' departure, the people of Fuwayrit renounced their ill-gained wealth.[6]

Battle of Fuwayrit

Cliffs of a rocky ridge in Jebel Fuwayrit (Fuwayrit Mountain)

The town was frequently visited and its affairs interfered with by the ruler of Bahrain, Mohammed bin Khalifa. In 1847, Isa bin Tarif, the chief of Al Bidda, became convinced that Mohammed bin Khalifa wanted to bring the nearby town of Zubarah under his control in order to prevent future attacks on Bahrain from being launched from the coast of Qatar.[7]

The deposed ruler of Bahrain, Abdullah bin Ahmed bin Khalifa, lived in Qatar during this period. After garnering support from the Wahhabis of Najd, he threatened to occupy Bahrain. In addition to having support from the Wahhabis, Isa bin Tarif had also pledged his allegiance to Abdullah bin Ahmed. This prompted Mohammed bin Khalifa to write a letter describing the situation to Captain William Lowe, captain of the East India Company's naval squadron, in November. Captain Lowe responded to the letter by requesting Mohammed bin Khalifa to refrain from hostilities at sea, and warned that any vessels found being used for war would be seized. Mohammed bin Khalifa retorted by blaming Isa bin Tarif and Abdullah bin Ahmed for creating a warlike atmosphere. On 7 November 1847, Isa bin Tarif and his deputy jointly wrote to Samuel Hennel describing their suspicions of Mohammed bin Khalifa's plan to invade the north-east coast of Qatar.[8]

Intent on defending the coast from Bahraini intervention, Isa bin Tarif and Mubarak bin Ahmed preemptively arrived in Fuwayrit with troops in the first week of November. Mohammed bin Khalifa retorted by sending 7 small ships and 20 battils and advancing towards Fuwayrit by way of Zubarah. As the tensions worsened, the British dispatched several naval ships to blockade Al Bidda and wrote warning letters to Isa bin Tarif, Abdullah bin Ahmed and Mohammed bin Khalifa. Shortly after, Mohammed bin Khalifa's military general Ali bin Khalifa landed on the coast of Al Khor with 500 Bahraini troops under his command. The Bahraini forces were accompanied by the governors of Al-Hasa and Qatif.[9] The forces of Isa bin Tarif and Mubarak bin Ahmed numbered 600 troops and lacked any sort of cavalry units.[10]

The decisive battle took place on 17 November 1847 near Fuwayrit. Isa bin Tarif's forces were defeated after he and eighty of his men were killed. After proclaiming victory, Mohammed bin Khalifa sent his warships to attack and demolish Al Bidda, and relocated most of its inhabitants to Bahrain. Afterwards, Abdullah bin Ahmed fled to Iran, while his son Mubarak bin Ahmed fled to Najd with 200 supporters. Mohammed bin Khalifa allowed 250 prisoners of war to settle on Kish Island.[11] This was a defining point in Qatar's history, as Isa bin Tarif's death left a gap in the peninsula's leadership which was to be filled by the Al Thani family.[10] Shortly after the battle, between 1848 and 1850, the family relocated to Doha.[12]

Late 19th century

In November 1879, there was a mass exodus of members of the Bu Kuwara tribe from Doha to Fuwayrit.[13] The cause of the migration was tensions between the tribe and emir Jassim bin Mohammed, and was said to have been instigated by the Bahraini sheikh. In 1881, they were joined by members of the Al Nuaim tribe.[14]

An 1890 British account records Fuwayrit as "A small walled town with several towers, 12 miles northwest of Ras Laffan, standing on a small khor; it has some white sand-hills immediately to the northward of it. The people of these towns are of the Al Bu Kuwara [Kuwari] tribe. At about 4 miles north of this place, a small village with several towers has been established by people from Wakra, and called Al Ghariyah. A small village with several towers, called ar Riyat, now stands about 2 miles north of Fuwairit and just to northward of the sand hills."[15]

20th century

Mangroves in Fuwayrit

Fuwayrit was described as such in J.G. Lorimer's Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf in the early 20th century:

"A village on the east side of Qatar promontory about 10 miles from its northern extremity. Immediately to the north of it is a hill called Jabal-al-Fuwairat, separating it from the site of the now deserted village of Ghariyah, which is also on the coast; according to another account, however, the Jabal is merely a vertical cliff 30 feet high, against the foot of which the sea breaks. The village is surrounded by towers, but it is not continuously walled and there are no gates. The house upon the circumference of the village are substantially built of stone and mud. The population of Fuwairat consists of about 100 houses of the Al Bu Kuwarah [Kuwari] tribe and 50 of Kibisah [Qubaisi] : these communities are divided from one another by a well marked street and form a southern and northern quarter respectively. The people live chiefly by pearl diving, but they also own some 20 horses, 100 camels, 60 donkeys and 80 cattle. About 35 pearl boats [manned by 420 men], 9 other sea-going vessels, and 12 fishing boats belong to the place. There are no shops. Indifferent water is obtained from the Zarka well, 1 mile west of the village, and good water from the wells of Filihah, and Ain Sinan distant 2 and 4 miles respecitvely to the south-west."[16]

According to the Origins of Doha Project, which is a UCL-headed project funded by the Qatar National Research Fund, aerial photographs taken of the site indicate that it was abandoned by the mid-20th century. However, a new village had emerged to the immediate south of Fuwayrit. It is possible that Fuwayrit, like many other settlements in Al Shamal during the mid-1900s, experienced significant population outflow due to upper aquifer salinization resulting from the overuse of diesel-powered water pumps. Nonetheless, once Qatar had begun reaping profits from its oil extraction activities, many northern settlements became repopulated as it had become feasible to transport water over longer distances.[17]

21st century

From January to February 2016, the Origins of Doha Project, being assisted by Qatar Museums, surveyed Fuwayrit and made a comprehensive list of all of its historic buildings which dated back to the 20th century. This was done in order to gain a more thorough understanding of the country's history during this period in lieu of written sources, which are scarce.[18]

Geography

Nestled in northeast Qatar, Fuwayrit is located 91 km north of the capital Doha, 25 km away from Ar Ru'ays, 51 km away from Zubarah, 60 km from Al Khor City, and 106 km from Al Wakrah.[19]

Historically, as Fuwayrit is based directly on the coast, seawater prevented direct access to the groundwater.[20] Therefore, the village formed a trade relationship with the nearby settlements of Al `Adhbah, Filiha, and Ain Sinan in which it would receive water in exchange for sea goods.[21] Fuwayrit's residents also visited an area 1.5 km inland called Zarqa, which they used as a source of farmland, fresh water and protection.[22]

Together with Ras Laffan, Fuwayrit accommodates approximately 30% of all sea turtle nests in Qatar.[23] Fuwayrit Beach is reported as offering the best protection to turtle eggs anywhere in the country, with 14 nests being preserved in 2012.[24] Fuwayrit Beach operates as a bird-watching site.[25]

Tourism

Fuwayrit is known for its beach located on the outskirts of the village.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Beaches". Qatar Tourism Authority. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Fuwairit". University of Copenhagen. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "GIS Portal". Ministry of Municipality and Environment. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  4. ↑ Robert Carter and Daniel Eddisford (June 2016). "Origins of Doha Project - Season 4 Archive Report: Fuwairit Standing Building Recording" (PDF). Origins of Doha Project. p. 7. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  5. ↑ Al-Attiyah, Hessa (2013). Reviving the Local Dialect in Qatar: An Issue of Linguistic Concern or Identity Politics?. Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. p. 14.
  6. 1 2 3 Al-Attiyah, p. 15
  7. ↑ Rahman, Habibur (2006). The Emergence Of Qatar. Routledge. p. 95. ISBN 978-0710312136.
  8. ↑ Habibur Rahman, p. 96
  9. ↑ Habibur Rahman, p. 97
  10. 1 2 Althani, Mohamed (2013). Jassim the Leader: Founder of Qatar. Profile Books. p. 59. ISBN 978-1781250709.
  11. ↑ Habibur Rahman, p. 98
  12. ↑ "Doha and Bidda 1850 - 1870: The rise of the Al Thani Family and Conflicts with Bahrain". Origins of Doha Project. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  13. ↑ "'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [804] (959/1782)". Qatar Digital Library. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [805] (960/1782)". Qatar Digital Library. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  15. ↑ The Persian Gulf pilot: comprising the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Omán; and Makran coast. Great Britain: Hydrographic Dept. 1890. p. 126–127.
  16. ↑ "'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [632] (675/1050)". Qatar Digital Library. Retrieved 28 July 2015. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  17. ↑ Robert Carter and Daniel Eddisford (June 2016). "Origins of Doha Project - Season 4 Archive Report: Fuwairit Standing Building Recording" (PDF). Origins of Doha Project. p. 7. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  18. ↑ Robert Carter and Daniel Eddisford (June 2016). "Origins of Doha Project - Season 4 Archive Report: Fuwairit Standing Building Recording" (PDF). Origins of Doha Project. p. 6. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  19. ↑ Whelan, John (1983). Qatar, a MEED practical guide. London: Middle East Economic Digest. p. 53. ISBN 0950521191.
  20. ↑ Phillip G Macumber (2012). "An examination of the impact of environmental disparity on the occupation of Qatar". University of Copenhagen. p. 24. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  21. ↑ Phillip G. Macumber (2015). "Water Heritage in Qatar" (PDF). Cultural Heritages of Water: Thematic Study on The Cultural Heritages of Water in the Middle East and Maghreb. UNESCO World Heritage Convention. UNESCO. p. 226. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  22. ↑ Robert Carter and Daniel Eddisford (June 2016). "Origins of Doha Project - Season 4 Archive Report: Zarqa Survey" (PDF). Origins of Doha Project. p. 5. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  23. ↑ "Nature's gift to Fuwairit, turtles". JustHere Qatar. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  24. ↑ "Hawksbill finds safe haven in Qatar shores". The Peninsula. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  25. ↑ "Sailiyah becomes a graveyard for birds". The Peninsula. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
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