Al Khor (city)

Al-Khor
الخور
City
One of the three Al Khor Towers
Al Thakhira Road
Souq Waqif Al Khor
Al Khor Harbor
Al Khor Park
Al-Khor
Location in Qatar
Coordinates: 25°41′24″N 51°30′36″E / 25.69000°N 51.51000°E / 25.69000; 51.51000
Country Qatar
MunicipalityAl Khor Municipality
ZoneZone 74
District no.269
Area
  Urban
4.4 sq mi (11.4 km2)
Population
 (2021)
  City
61,877
Time zoneUTC+3 (AST)

Al Khor (Arabic: الخور, romanized: Al Khawr) is a coastal city in northeast Qatar, located 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of the capital Doha. Considered one of Qatar's largest cities, it is the capital city of the municipality of Al Khor and Al Thakhira. Dating back to the 18th century, it is one of Qatar's oldest settlements. The name of the city, meaning creek in Arabic, emerged because the original settlement was built on a creek. Until the mid-1900s, it was known as Khor Al Shaqiq.

Originally a fishing and pearling village, much of Al Khor's recent growth has been due to its proximity to Qatar's northern oil and natural gas fields and to Ras Laffan Industrial City. Along with the neighboring Al Khor Community, it hosts a large number of oil workers. Al Khor Island, an important archaeological and tourist site, is northeast of the city. It was also the venue for the opening game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.