DOHA: Ali Abdulla Al Abdulla, Director-General of the Urban Planning and Development Authority (UPDA), underscored the significant impact of urban planning on Qatar's business development in an exclusive interview with The Report: Qatar 2008, published by Oxford Business Group (OBG).
Strategic development planning plays an increasingly important role as Qatar attracts new businesses and residents from abroad, said Al Abdulla. UPDA is fully involved in development throughout the country, with projects being implemented through the Public Works Authority.
He said a number of master-planned projects are coming to fruition, in addition to master plans being drawn up for the development of smaller cities such as Al Wakra and Al Khor to give investors and developers options outside Doha.
Al Abdulla said that, although planning the entire country is important, the two main areas of focus at present are building infrastructure and developing policy and regulations.
"With regard to infrastructure, we are looking five to 20 years out," he said. "Most of this concentration is on road and traffic networks, as things like electricity and water are already sufficient with current capacity set to last up to ten years.
"Most projects have already begun and will be completed over the next four to five years. Although great progress is being made in these areas, the market is growing so rapidly and creating so much demand that it is a challenge for infrastructure to keep up." The interview with Al Abdulla is one of a series of exclusive interviews with leading political and economic figures, conducted by a team of OBG analysts based in Qatar for six months. The Report: Qatar 2008, the latest of OBG's annual business guides to the emirate is rated as the premier guide for foreign direct investment into the country's vibrant economy. Available in print form and online, it is part of the range of OBG's publications, which are renowned as leading sources of information on developing and emerging economies around the world.
© The Peninsula 2009
