HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani has issued a decision allowing commercial activities that support the diversity needed to develop investment and support investors, in the framework of the government's keenness on strengthening partnership between the public and private sectors and the participation of the private sector in the economic development projects in the country.
The decision included allowing commercial activities in areas and streets in the State, namely the administrative towers area (West Bay Area), the administrative streets in the State (14 administrative streets and offices) and malls.
The decision complements the previous decisions of HE the Prime Minister to support investment.
The Ministerial Group for the Encouragement and Participation of the Private Sector in Economic Development Projects of Qatar chaired by HE the Prime Minister approved the recommendations submitted by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) to encourage more private sector participation in Qatar’s economic development.
This was announced on Wednesday during a panel discussion attended by Turki Fahad al-Turki, assistant director of the Urban Planning Department at the MME; Juma Sabah Juma, head of Urban Design Department at the Department of Urban Planning; and Eng Khalid bin Joma al-Marzouqi, the MME’s head of Building Permits Complex, on the sidelines of Cityscape Qatar 2019.
According to the panel, the recommendations include allowing the conduct of many vital business activities that support the diversity needed to develop investment and support investors.
These recommendations include allowing commercial uses within the administrative towers area in West Bay; educational activities, such as colleges, institutes, and nurseries in the towers area; and medical activities, such as primary healthcare centres, diagnostic and treatment centres, and clinics.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the panel discussion, Juma said the move aims to transform West Bay into a retail hub by increasing footfall in the area. He said developers are also encouraged to submit their designs for approval from authorities.
“This will also add value to the properties in the West Bay area, which is most active from 7am to 2pm; and it will also encourage more people to go there, especially after office hours,” Juma said.
As part of adopting the recommendations, 27 commercial activities were permitted within the administrative streets approved in the country. These are Al Muntazah Street, Halul Street, Ali Bin Ali Taleb Street, Corniche Road, Al Jazeera Al Arabiya Street, C-Ring Road, D-Ring Road, Prince Street, Al Rawabi Street, Jaw’aan Street, Ibn Sina Street, Al Markhiya Street, Al Rayyan Street, Rawdat Al Khail Street.
Various administrative activities were also permitted within the malls, including the establishment of medical centres, cultural services, and offices. For interested parties, al-Marzouq said the MME has an online system to process requests for the necessary permits needed to participate in these projects.
