Notable features of the area are a border post separating the southern part of the municipality from Saudi Arabia, and a well. It was Qatar's only land border crossing to Saudi Arabia. The settlement derived its name from a local Samr tree. Because the area contained one of the few Samr trees in the entire region, it was named Abu Samra, meaning 'father of the Samr tree'. The tree has local significance as it is used as fodder for camels.