Al-Naimi completed her PhD in 1994 from Ain-Shams University, Egypt. She is the former Director of the Environmental Research Unit of Qatar University and presently an Assistant Professor of geology at the Department of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Qatar University. She has published several papers in hydrogeology and geochemistry in reputed journals.

Hydrogeochemical analyses of groundwater samples in Shamal area were carried out to evaluate the groundwater chemistry of the area and hence its suitability for irrigation and other purposes. Thirteen

groundwater samples were collected from different functional wells in the area and were analyzed for different physico-chemical parameters. The analyzed parameters include TDS, EC, major cations and anions. The water quality study shows that EC ranges from 7891.88-20736.84 μS/cm, TDS values range from 5050.80-13271.58 mg/l. Analytical study of water samples shows that sodium varies from 1316.38-3432.39 mg/l, calcium varies from 300.81-799.93 mg/l, magnesium varies from 126.66-381.81 mg/l, potassium

varies from 74-181.02 mg/l, chloride values range from 2177.75-6058 mg/l, sulphate values range from 743.87-2448.79 mg/l and bicarbonate values range from 23.13- 240.3 mg/l. The high concentrations of sodium and chloride ions are indicators of saline water intrusion. The analyses of the hydro geochemical ratios were also done to highlight the groundwater genesis and origin of mineralization. The water samples were analyzed for suitability for irrigation using various classification criteria and mathematical formula. The results from analysis of KR, SAR, SSP, PS,EC and %Na all show that the water in the area is unfit for irrigation purposes.