Planning of National Transport Infrastructure
In the Islamic Countries
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3.5.4. Procedural Factors and Financing
The planning procedures in Qatar are laid out in the Qatar Vision 2030 where the National
Strategy is drafted by the General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP) under the
direction of Qatar’s Higher Authorities (Qatar, 2008). This provides a medium-term framework
for coordinated and aligned sectorial and enterprise strategies, containing plans and projects
designed to achieve the National Vision. To do so, there are certain requirements that should be
respected, such as organizational capacity building, an efficient delivery of public services, an
effective public-private cooperation and the creation of a vibrant climate for business (Qatar,
2008). The process considers also the stakeholders concerned among which are ministries,
government agencies and service providers.
Financing
The state budget is the main source of finance of Qatar’s transport infrastructures. According to
the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) (Independent, March 27th 2017), large investments will
also be made in this sector in the coming years. Since recently private funding is also being
considered. In 2015 Qatar signed its first PPP agreement and at the moment a PPP law is being
introduced (Qatar Tribune May 2nd, 2017). According to Gulf Times (May 20th, 2017), in the
National Development Strategy 2017-22 (NDS-2) PPP is seen as a diversification enabler.
New Hamad Port is an example where private finance and management to transport
infrastructure projects in which PPP, build-operate-transfer (BOT) and design-build-operate-
transfer (DBOT) have been applied. Qatar considers these structures at an early stage of NTI
planning in order to attract private finance, improve the system performance and reduce
capacity obstacles. The cost of major projects and the annual allocations and sources of finance
are estimated with a 3-5 year horizon by the implementing entities and are submitted to the
Finance Department for approval. Examples are the future road programme budget planning
that is prepared by Ashghal, the Public Works Authority of Qatar; the Metro Cost estimates are
prepared by Qatar Rail and Bus system costs by Mowasalat, the National Bus Company.
3.5.5. Content of NTI Plan
The objectives and performance measures which the NTI plans are based on, take into
consideration that Qatar is still a developing country, the need to implementation of connection
among cities and an improved design of a road network that can reduce travel time and
congestions and improve accessibility. Qatar aims to connect to the world and to its close
neighbours. During the phase of preparation of the NTI plans, Qatar takes into consideration
economic and demographic aspects, and issues of space, climate, environment, maintenance and
behavioural changes.
The purpose of the NTI plan of Qatar is outlined in the TransportationMaster Plan Qatar (TMPQ)
drafted by the Ministry of Municipality & Environment to respond to the increasing demand for
transport due to the rapidly growing economy and fast development of population and therefore
employment. It is intended to redesign the system to meet demand needs, enhance and foster
development and reduce negative impacts and drafted with a 20-year time horizon (Qatar,
2008). This is generally the typical planning horizon that can, however, be extended to 35 years.
The NTI plans also incorporates scenario analyses that are implemented using the Qatar
Strategic Transportation Model (QSTM). External shocks like are not included in scenario