Al Mukaynis
Al Mukaynis مكينس | |
|---|---|
District | |
![]() Al Mukaynis | |
| Coordinates: 25°07′00″N 51°14′00″E / 25.11667°N 51.23333°E | |
| Country | |
| Municipality | Al Rayyan |
| Zone no. | Zone 81 |
| District no. | 484 |
| Area | |
• Total | 15.8 km2 (6.1 sq mi) |
Al Mukaynis (Arabic: مكينس; also spelled Mekaines) is a district located in the municipality of Ar Rayyan, Qatar, near Mebaireek. Mudhlem Cave, which translates to "Dark Cave" in Arabic,[2] is located in the area.[3] Nearby Al Rekayya Farms (Irkaya Farms) is a popular bird watching site.[4]
In J.G. Lorimer's Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Al Mukaynis was mentioned as a stopover on the route from Hofuf to Doha as early as 1908.[5]
Etymology
The name Al Mukaynis derives from the Arabic term mekainis, a diminutive of maknas, which denotes a habitat frequented by wild animals during periods of extreme heat. The site, formerly a rawda (a type of low-lying area that retains moisture), once served as a seasonal refuge for such wildlife.[6]
Geography
Al Mukaynis is located in south-central Qatar, south of the Doha-Abu Samra road. It forms part of the northern zone of the southern desert region, which occupies 34.7% of Qatar's total area. Of the four sub-regions of the southern desert, Al Mukaynis is a part of the Miocene-Tiwar sub-area. The area around Al Mukaynis is part of a region characterized by a mix of rocky plains (hamada) and sand dunes. It is located in a zone where the landscape begins to show more varied topographical features compared to areas further north.[7]
Al Mukaynis is near an area of geological interest, characterized by Miocene-era formations that are distinct from the surrounding older rock types. The surrounding area has a generally undulating surface with elevations not exceeding 60 metres (200 ft) above sea level.[7]
Climate
The following is climate data for Al Mukaynis obtained from Qatar Meteorology Department.
| Climate data for Al Mukaynis | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.8 (73.0) | 25.0 (77.0) | 29.4 (84.9) | 35.6 (96.1) | 41.1 (106.0) | 43.9 (111.0) | 44.4 (111.9) | 44.4 (111.9) | 41.7 (107.1) | 36.7 (98.1) | 29.4 (84.9) | 24.4 (75.9) | 34.9 (94.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.2 (63.0) | 19.2 (66.6) | 23.1 (73.6) | 28.6 (83.5) | 33.6 (92.5) | 35.9 (96.6) | 37.2 (99.0) | 37.2 (99.0) | 34.4 (93.9) | 29.7 (85.5) | 24.2 (75.6) | 19.2 (66.6) | 28.3 (83.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.7 (53.1) | 13.3 (55.9) | 16.7 (62.1) | 21.7 (71.1) | 26.1 (79.0) | 27.8 (82.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 27.2 (81.0) | 22.8 (73.0) | 18.9 (66.0) | 13.9 (57.0) | 21.7 (71.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 7.5 (0.30) | 7.7 (0.30) | 12.9 (0.51) | 4.2 (0.17) | 0.5 (0.02) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.5 (0.02) | 2.5 (0.10) | 21 (0.8) | 56.8 (2.22) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 68 | 63 | 54 | 45 | 37 | 36 | 39 | 48 | 50 | 55 | 61 | 72 | 52 |
| Source: [8] | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ "Qatar districts". arcgis.com. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ Abdulali M. Sadiq & Sobhi J. Nasir (2002). "Middle Pleistocene karst evolution in the State of Qatar, Arabian Gulf". Journal of Cave and Karst Studies. 64 (2): 132–139.
- ^ Heidelberger, Mark. "What Caves Are In Qatar". USA Today. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ^ Newsletter (issue 2), vol. 1, Qatar Bird Club, April 2010
- ^ "'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol. II. Geographical and Statistical. J G Lorimer. 1908' [1524] (1639/2084)". Qatar Digital Library. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
- ^ "Mekainis Al Shamali". The Centre for Geographic Information Systems of Qatar. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ^ a b "طبوغرافية شبه جزيرة قطر" (in Arabic). Qatar Historical Encyclopedia. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ Climate Normals Qatar Weather
External links
