[2][3] Umm Birka derives its name from the Arabic word "barikat," which means "blessing."

[4] Umm Birka is situated in northeast Qatar.

The village of Umm Al Qahab is nearby.

[5] The settlement is one of five sites for the government-sponsored project to develop reservoirs in the country.

[6] Once completed, the reservoirs are expected to be the largest in the world in their category,[7] with a total length of 650 km and constructed at a cost of QR 14.5 billion.