Planning of National Transport Infrastructure
In the Islamic Countries
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accessibility, and the need to reduce its environmental footprint, Qatar has made the
development of a solid public transportation system a high priority ambition (Qatar, 2011). This
reflects a more responsible and informed approach to develop to factor in more sustainability.
As mentioned in the contextual comments in the introduction. In the near term a mass transit
metro system is planned with an addition of 300-kilometre rail infrastructure network that will
provide an attractive alternative to private cars. Current infrastructure policies, in addition to
the focus on public transport, envisage promoting walking and cycling by integrating
appropriate facilities in new to build infrastructures and by redesigning existing roads.
3.5.1. Political and Legislation Factors
The NTI planningmainly hinges on the plans that are declared in transport documents produced
at local, regional and national level. These are aligned with the goals of the Qatar National Vision
2030 (Qatar, 2008). This is the roadmap that provides the guidelines in economic, social, human
and environmental development for the coming decades. The Qatar Ministry of Transport and
Communication (MOTC) obviously plays a leading role in compiling the vision and strategy and
the preparation of the national transport master plan. The MOTC sets out objectives aligned to
the Vision to guide stakeholders of the decisions that they should make.
The Qatar National Vision 2030 (Qatar, 2008) is based on the principles of the Constitution and
consultations with government institutions and experts at local and international level. It refers
to the exceptional economic growth of the past period and its political progress (ratification of
Qatar’s Permanent Constitution in 2004). It aims at “transforming Qatar into an advanced
country by 2030, capable of sustaining its own development and providing a high standard of
living for all of its people for generations to come.”
Qatar's National Vision 2030 rests on four pillars:
 Human Development - development of all its people to enable them to sustain a prosperous
society: free and high-quality education and health care for all and increased and diversified
participation of Qataris in the workforce;
 Social Development - development of a just and caring society based on high moral
standards, and capable of playing a significant role in the global partnership for
development (social care, sound social structure and international cooperation;
 Economic Development - development of a competitive and diversified economy capable of
meeting the needs of, and securing a high standard of living for, all its people both for the
present and for the future (sound economic management, responsible exploitation of oil
and gas, suitable economic diversification, including a diversified economy, a knowledge-
based economy and a world-class infrastructural backbone);
 Environmental Development - management of the environment such that there is harmony
between economic growth, social development and environmental protection.
Qatar National Vision 2030 identifies five challenges:
1. Modernization and preservation of traditions
2. The needs of this generation and the needs of future generations (intergenerational justice:
investing wisely and prevent “tipping the environmental scales irreversibly”)
3. Managed growth and uncontrolled expansion