From the saying of the leader:

“The comprehensive development is our main goal to achieve progress of our country and prosperity for our people”. In support of the saying of His Highness and to achieve this goal, the Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent Sheikh Tameem Bin Hamad Al Thani, has issued the law concerning establishment of the Urban Planning & Development. Authority (UPDA) , thereby marked an important turning point in the efforts and aspirations of State of Qatar, in building a modern country possessing plans, goals and functions that would help ensure achievement of highest rate of Urban Development.

These goals include:

• Preparation of Urban plans with the aim of completing the infrastructure and developing the general utilities in the country.
• IEstablishment of long-term vision and studies scientific plans, distinguished by modern management, providing proactive and timely services for the citizens and expatriates, and able to promote large-scale urban development projects in the country which would be executed by renowned international Companies in the coming years.

The functions given to the UPDA are:

• Propose and  prepare the comprehensive and specific urban plans at the national level, and follow up the implementation.
• Survey of lands and preparation of the required national survey maps.
• Subdivision of lands, sorting aamalgamation/redistribution of lands..
• Establish rules and regulations of issuance of building permits, in accordance with  urban plans and implementing applicable regulations and resolutions.
• Regulation and control the practice of Engineering professions and exercising supervision over the professional Engineers Committee.
• Management of government properties, documentation and archiving of records of public and private government properties and protecting them from encroachment or misuse s, and resolving problems that may arise.
• Provide and allocate the necessary lands required to meet the needs of ministries and other government departments public authorities and establishments, as well as for general housing needs, Document and archive records of these lands.
• Specify the real estate properties which are to be expropriated for public interest, according to Urban plans, in coordination with the concerned authorities.
• Propose investment projects which are needed for Urban development works. Conduct economic feasibility study for such projects, estimate the necessary budgets, propose how the projects would implemented and necessary regulations for their management, operation and marketing.
• Develop and control the national standards and specifications related to geographical information systems (GIS), conduct researches on them provide assistance in this field to the ministries and other government departments connected to these systems provide the basic geographical maps of the country and related support services.
• Propose drafts of laws, regulations and resolutions regulating the issues included in UPDA's functions.
• Represent the government in the meetings, conferences, symposiums, membership in authorities and organizations related to its activities.