Al Najada
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Al Najada
| native_name = النجادة
| native_name_lang = ar
| settlement_type = District
| image_skyline = File:Sikkat Al Ihsan Street in Al Najada.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Sikkat Al Ihsan Street in Al Najada
| image_flag =
| flag_alt =
| image_seal =
| seal_alt =
| image_shield =
| shield_alt =
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_map =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Qatar Doha#Qatar
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|25|17|N|51|31.8|E|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flagicon|QAT}} Qatar
| subdivision_type1 = Municipality
| subdivision_name1 = Ad-Dawhah
| subdivision_type2 = Zone
| subdivision_name2 = Zone 5
| subdivision_type3 = District no.
| subdivision_name3 = 5
| area_total_km2 = 0.05
| population_footnotes =
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_note =
| timezone1 =
| utc_offset1 =
| timezone1_DST =
| utc_offset1_DST =
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_code_type =
| area_code =
| iso_code =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Al Najada ({{langx|ar|النجادة|An-Najādah}}) is a Qatari district in the municipality of Doha.{{cite web|url=http://www.qsa.gov.qa/eng/publication/annabs/2014/1_Population2013.pdf|title=2010 population census|publisher=Qatar Statistics Authority|accessdate=29 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142501/http://www.qsa.gov.qa/eng/publication/annabs/2014/1_Population2013.pdf|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} It is one of the oldest districts of Doha.{{cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/7412457|title=Al Asmakh historic district in Doha, Qatar: from an urban slum to living heritage|website=academia.edu|author=Djamel Bouassa|accessdate=10 July 2015}} Doha's rapid urbanization during the 1970s after it gained independence resulted in the gradual decline of Al Najada. Several of its historical buildings have been demolished.
The Qatar Museums Authority has taken steps to preserve the cultural and architectural heritage of the district with its 'Al Turath al Hai' ('living heritage') initiative.{{cite web|url=http://marhaba.qa/the-winners-of-the-old-doha-prize-competition-announced/|title=The Winners of the Old Doha Prize Competition Announced|publisher=Marhaba|date=26 November 2013|accessdate=10 July 2015|archive-date=27 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927165027/http://www.marhaba.qa/the-winners-of-the-old-doha-prize-competition-announced/|url-status=dead}} Most significant structures dating back to the early 20th century that still exist have been documented by the Origins of Doha Project. Some of the contemporary buildings dating to the late 20th century were intentionally designed with traditional elements of Qatari architecture in the interests of preserving the district's identity.{{cite web|url=https://originsofdoha.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/origins-of-doha-and-qatar-season-2-building-survey-report.pdf|title=Historic Building Survey Report|publisher=Origins of Doha Project|page=41|author1=Daniel Eddisford |author2=Kirk Roberts|date=June 2014|accessdate=27 August 2018}}
Etymology
The name Al Najada is thought to be derived from the term describing the people of the Najd, the place of origin of its original residents.{{cite journal|last1=Fletcher|first1=Richard|last2=Carter|first2=Robert A.|url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10039439/1/Carter_MappingDoha_accepted.pdf|title=Mapping the Growth of an Arabian Gulf Town: the case of Doha, Qatar|journal=Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient|volume=60|issue=4|page=24|doi=10.1163/15685209-12341432|date=12 May 2017|accessdate=10 June 2024}}
Geography
Al Najada borders the following districts:{{cite web|url=http://geoportal.gisqatar.org.qa/qmape/index.html|title=District map|publisher=The Centre for Geographic Information Systems of Qatar|accessdate=30 November 2019|archive-date=24 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124143437/https://geoportal.gisqatar.org.qa/qmape/index.html|url-status=dead}}
- Barahat Al Jufairi to the south, separated by Barahat Al Jufairi Street.
- Old Al Ghanim to the east, separated by Grand Hamad Street.
- Al Jasrah to the north, separated by Ali Bin Abdullah Street.
- Mushayrib to the west.
Landmarks
=Najada Souq=
Najada Souq, also known as the Mobile Phone Souq, was closed in 2012. It was announced in 2017 that the souq would re-open.{{cite web|url=https://www.expatwoman.com/qatar/things-to-do/qatars-old-souq-najada-getting-makeover|title=Qatar's Old Souq Najada Is Getting a Makeover|website=expatwoman.com|date=30 January 2017|accessdate=27 August 2018}} A gold market containing 50 shops was inaugurated in the refurbished Najada Souq in July 2018. The new souq has an underground parking lot with 250 spaces.{{cite web|url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/598112/New-Gold-Souq-housing-50-shops-opens-at-Souq-Najad|title=New Gold Souq housing 50 shops opens at Souq Najada|publisher=Gulf Times|date=2 July 2018|accessdate=27 August 2018}}
=Sikkat Al Ihsan=
Sikkat Al Ihsan is a tapered street that connects Al Maymoun Street and Barahat Al Jufairi Street. Most of the residential units on this street are old, likely dating to the early 20th century, and provide good examples of vernacular architecture in Doha. Because of its long and mostly-undisturbed history, Sikkat Al Ihsan is considered a significant historic site of interest.{{cite web|url=https://originsofdoha.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/origins-of-doha-and-qatar-season-2-building-survey-report.pdf|title=Historic Building Survey Report|publisher=Origins of Doha Project|page=30|author1=Daniel Eddisford |author2=Kirk Roberts|date=June 2014|accessdate=27 August 2018}}
=Windtower house=
Windtowers are structures built to direct airflow in buildings. In the past, they were a common occurrence in Qatar, however, the rapid modernization of Doha has seen all other windtowers in the city demolished, leaving Al Najada's windtower as the last surviving one in Qatar's capital.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SGdPDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA182|last1=Benna|first1=Umar G.|last2=Garba|first2=Shaibu Bala|title=Population Growth and Rapid Urbanization in the Developing World|publisher=IGI Global|date=7 June 2016|page=182|isbn=9781522501886}} Situated inside the Najada Souq complex, the house once served as an ethnographic museum but has since been closed to the public.{{cite web|url=http://www.explore-qatar.com/culture_and_heritage/places_to_visit/Windtower-House|title=Windtower House|publisher=Explore Qatar|accessdate=8 November 2019}}