Qatar plans a huge investment on road network and integrated facilities

Qatar has earmarked a massive amount of money for modernization of the road network and other related infrastructural projects with aims to broad-base the population and ensure an all-round development of other parts of the Peninsula. The major decision by the Public Works Authority is likely to prove a big stimulus to the real estate sector growth.

According to a report published by the Urban Planning under the PWA, as much as 41 percent of the budget has been allocated to develop the major public projects, which will facilitate the expansion of the country’s infrastructural landscape in conformity with the 2030 Qatar National Vision.

Once the major public projects completed, the real estate projects of Ezdan Group and Barwa Group in those areas are expected to experience a huge boom and may attract a large number of people in Doha to spread out in these areas in search of healthy and comfortable lifestyle. 

The focus of the infrastructural development will be zoom in on the New Doha International Airport, the New Doha Port and Qatar railway line along with the road and sanitation projects surrounding these important future symbols of growth and prosperity.

According to the report, the Urban Planning will spend QR70 billion in the next eight years for creating flawless road system, drainage and other required facilities in these areas with strong hopes of pushing the economic growth of Qatar further by several notches.

The Urban Planning has stressed a great deal on the expansion of Qatari skyline horizontally, not vertically. It has also identified as many as 22 projects related with the roads and sanitation sectors to provide the best of living conditions to all Qatari residents. It has planned to spend about QR45 billion on improving and creating roads and about QR25 billion has been set aside for sanitation and drainage system and other related facilities. When the projects are commissioned, this will significantly reduce the traffic woes that are facing the Qatari residents at present.

The Urban Planning has planned to connect Al Wakrah and Wukair with Doha with multi-lane roads, which will help people cover the distance between the Doha International Airport and these two areas approximately within 10 minutes. This will create an attractive opportunity for expansion of the residential landscape outside Doha. The above-mentioned road will also reduce the travelling distance from the end point of City Creek to the New Doha International Airport to an incredible 35 minutes.

At the moment, the real estate developers are observing the progress of the infrastructural projects with keen interest and drawing their future strategies. The new development plan is also likely to give birth to many new real estate projects by the private developers to effectively fulfill the objectives and goals of the 2030 Qatar National Vision.

The Project No 17 in Al Wakrah and Wukair, according to the Qatar’s Transport Master Plan, appears to be the most significant road project which will link Al Wakrah with Doha through a 24-km metallic road. It will be completed at an estimated budget of QR1 billion, easily indicating where the future major development is likely to take place.

The Ezdan Group and the Barwa Group are likely to be the major real estate players in future. Both Ezdan and Barwa have their integrated commercial and residential projects in Al Wakrah and Wukair. Ezdan, under the wise guidance of Ezdan Group Chairman HE Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, had long ago started to concentrate on areas outside Doha, which was already becoming key working area for both national and international companies. Now putting everything in proper perspective, the Ezdan Group’s decision to build multi-level residential complexes in Al Wakrah and Wukair appears quite strategic and visionary. In future, the Al Wakrah and Wukair areas seem all set to witness new and strong real estate growth.

The Ezdan Group is playing a key role in the Qatar’s vibrant ecomony. Shortly, the Ezdan Villages will serve as the Athletes’ Village for the Pan Arab Games, which are scheduled in Doha from December 9 to 23. More than 8,000 players and officials will be housed in the Ezdan Villages in Wukair and provided with all possible integrated facilities to make their stay comfortable, enjoyable and memorable. The Ezdan Villages will be linked with Doha through a road which will help the Pan Arab Games players and officials cover the distance within seven minutes. The road will further stretch to Abu Hamour area, making the travel for thousands of residents much easier. After the Pan Arab Games, the value of the Ezdan Village is absolutely certain to appreciate manifolds.

The Ezdan Group has also signed a massive contract with 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup to provide housing facilities. Under the agreement, the Ezdan Group will create 50,000 residential units of various sizes to those who would be coming for the World Cup football, biggest single-sport championship in the world.

The 2022 World Cup is also likely to be a catalyst in the development of the whole Qatar. The global championship, to be organised in the Arab world for the first time, has given a new impetus to the growth and there is an estimate that the infrastructural projects in Qatar, including the railway project, would cost about QR 200 billion in the next 12 years. Other 2022 World Cup related projects include nine new stadiums worth $14.5 billion, more than 80,000 hotel rooms and the 45-km long causeway, worth $4 billion, liking Qatar with Bahrain. Therefore, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is likely to alter the real estate scene completely and accelerate the Real Estate growth to new and uncharted levels.

The report also states that the most prominent road projects include the Doha Expressway, which is located in the south of Doha. The Doha Expressway is quite prominent as it links not only southern part of Doha with its the western part through a free-flowing traffic but also New Doha International Airport, Al Wakra and Mesaieed. The Barwa Group and its project Barwa Al Baraha have benefitted the most by the construction of the Doha Expressway.

The Qatar National Vision 2030, prepared under the direction of the Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, has a total infrastructural development plan worth $400 billion. Half of the budget has been allocated to projects related to oil and gas, while the other half would be spent on developing Lusail City, the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway, New Doha Port, road network and other integrated facilities.