[1] The district received its name from a tree that grows abundantly in the area known locally as "markh" (Leptadenia pyrotechnica).

Lorimer's 1908 geography section of the Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Al Markhiya was described as a camping ground with a masonry well and a garden.

The garden, which was established by former emir Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, was enclosed by a wall and was used for date palm cultivation.

[3] Lorimer noted that it appeared to be one of the only seven sizable date palm plantations in Qatar.

At a cost of QR 3 billion, the marble was imported from Italy, the stone from Palestine, and its architects were flown in from Rajasthan, India.