Umm Bab

Umm Bab is a settlement in Qatar, located in the municipality of Al Rayyan. It used to be part of the Al Jemailiya municipality before the municipality was incorporated into Al Rayyan. Umm Bab is also known as 'Palm Tree Beach' owing to a small cluster of palm trees situated on its beach.The settlement derived its name from local geographical features. Umm Bab translates to 'mother of gateway'. The 'gateway' portion of the name refers to a narrow path or opening in the area surrounded by two small hills which resemble a gateway.HistoryIn 1948, shortly after the commencement of oil drilling operations in Dukhan, a housing village was built to the immediate south of Umm Bab to accommodate both Qatar Petroleum workers and locals of Umm Bab. A road was built the same year to connect Umm Bab and Dukhan. In 1961, the government inaugurated a boys school in the village. The housing village had approximately 50 houses by 1990, most of which belonged to members of the Al Murrah tribe who were employed by Qatar Petroleum.IndustryUmm Bab is one of only two sites in Qatar from which large quantities of limestone and clay can be easily excavated, the other site being Umm Salal. In 1965, the government capitalized on Umm Bab's rich natural resources by headquartering the Qatar National Cement Company in the area. This decision also served as an impetus to develop Qatar's western region.The first processing of cement took place in 1969, and the factory received its water supply from Rawdat Rashed and its oil supply from Dukhan.