[3] 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.

According to an alternative version of this story, it is stated that the two cousins stumbled upon Al Khor after unsuccessfully chasing down a hare, rather than searching for their lost camels.

Carsten Niebuhr, an 18th-century German explorer who visited the Arabian Peninsula, created one of the first maps to depict the settlements of Qatar in 1765 in which he denoted 'Adsjar', possibly referring to Al Khor.

"[9] In the 19th century, several other tribes within the country began migrating to Khor Al Shaqiq as a result of its reputation and its well-known spring, Ain Hleetan.

[11] To protect both the coveted Ain Hleetan Well and the town's fledgling harbor, the villagers built the Al Khor Towers around 1900.

Holidays, cultural activities such as ardah performances, and wedding celebrations were held here due to the large amount of open space in this structure.

Their relationship was so extensive that it was even incorrectly speculated by English diplomat Charles Belgrave that the Al Muhannada originated from Iran.

[3] At this time, most of Al Khor's houses, built out of stone, were located along the beachfront, being connected by a series of narrow alleyways.

[23] Due to the continuous expansion at Ras Laffan Industrial City, the number of facilities and services available in the town is rapidly increasing.

In October 2015, Ashghal (Public Works Authority) revealed that it would be investing billions of Qatari riyals into developing infrastructure in Al Khor.

[25] Common vegetation found in Al Khor include alaqool (Alhagi maurorum) in the northwest,[26] qurdi (Ochradenus baccatus),[27] mangroves (Avicennia marina),[28] glasswort (Salicornia europaea),[29] hadh (Cornulaca aucheri),[30] rimth (Haloxylon salicornicum),[31] Arab bean (Gypsophila vaccaria),[32] cottina (Bassia eriophora),[33] broadleaf seagrass (Halophila stipulacea) near the coast,[34] and cleome barbaran (Cleome brachycarpa).

[43] In 2019, the largest-ever expansion project of Qatari fishing ports was launched by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, which included an additional 208 parking lots for boats in the Al Khor Harbor.

[47] Ashghal (Public Works Authority) announced their intent to open a hospital with a bed capacity of 500 at a cost of QR 3.6 billion by 2017.

They also improved accessibility for handicapped people, added over 6,000 m2 (65,000 sq ft) of green areas and over 250 seats, and replaced every tile of the walkway.

Considered to be a domestic ecotourism destination, the island is connected to Al Khor by a tapered dirt path that runs through several streams.

[65] Among Al Khor's historic sites is the Ain Hleetan Well, which oral tradition suggests led to the founding of the city.

It is said that it was discovered by a group of hunters, and that its construction eventually led to the development of the surrounding area which evolved into the modern-day city of Al Khor.

In recognition of its historic importance, a marketplace consisting of over 70 stores known as Ain Hleetan Market was erected near the well, bolstering its tourism potential.

[68] On the ground floor of the museum, handiwork relating to Qatar's cultural heritage are displayed, and there are exhibits on the maritime traditions historically engaged in by Qataris, such as fishing and shipbuilding.

[71] The Italian industrial group Salini Impregilo was contracted to oversee the stadium's construction operations for a fee of QR 3.1 billion.

A separate women's section was opened in 2006 with its own library and offers workshops and education trips to heritage sites.

Bedouins are transitioning to the hadari dialect to align with the cosmopolitan, educated, and sophisticated lifestyle epitomized by Qatar’s royal family.

[78] A pivotal moment occurs when May's boats, propelled by skilled rowers, outpace Ghilân's vessels on the route to the pearl oyster beds.

She responded with a sarcastic remark: “the rope is in the minds of paddles.” During that era, pearl fishing was commonly conducted using row boats.

[78] While the legend of May and Ghilân has endured within Qatari folklore, its widespread dissemination has been limited primarily to the locality of Al Khor.

[87] When free elections of the Central Municipal Council first took place in Qatar in 1999,[88] Al Khor was designated the seat of constituency no.

[90] Due to its sheltered bay, wealth of mangroves, and favorable geography, Al Khor has been inhabited for thousands of years and has several archaeological sites of interest.

Ruins of a workshop, residences, and a cemetery have been discovered within city confines, and pottery has been unearthed which evidences trade relations between Al Khor's ancient inhabitants and nearby civilizations.

[94] At Al Khor Island off the bay, excavations have uncovered four main periods of occupation, dating from as early as c. 2000 BC to as late as 1900 AD.

It has been speculated that, as sea levels would have been approximately 2 meters (6.6 ft) higher, the hillock containing the burial sites would have presented as an island during that period.