Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the UPDA is pleased to announce that His Excellency Sheikh Abdul Rahman Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture and Head of the Steering Committee of Qatar National Master Plan, declared the official opening of the exhibition "The Master Plans for Development of Al Khor and Al Wakra ". The exhibition was organized by the Urban Planning & Development Authority and commenced on Thursday 15th May 2008 and will be open to the public until Thursday May 22nd, at the Qatar International Exhibition Centre.
In a press release given during the inauguration event, H.E. Adul Rahman bin Khalifa A Thani, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture cited the significance of this exhibition and the personal support given by His Highness Sheikh/ Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to the Qatar Master Development Plan. The comprehensive development plan will coordinate development projects with infrastructure development plans and allocate land for future residential and commercial projects, integrating transportation improvements and water and electricity and environmental needs.
His Excellency the Minister also cited the studies being prepared by the Urban Planning and Development Authority on Al Khor and Al Wakra Master plans have given consideration to such issues as protection of privacy and supporting local values and culture.
He also confirmed compliance with such principles as transparency, and the need for comprehensive strategies that will be reflected in the national master plan. The master plan will be implemented without prejudice to any third party and avail the land owners the opportunity to develop their properties according to the new land use and zoning plans and standards.
The opening session began with a welcome word delivered by His Excellency Ali Abdulla Al Abdulla, Director-General of the Urban Planning & Development Authority, who is quoted below:
I have the pleasure to thank you for your attendance at this exhibition organized by the Urban Planning & Development Authority which reflects the outcome of an illustrious and on going project vested to the UPDA in March, 2007 in collaboration with a Singaporean consultant "Surbana". Our vision is to redevelop Al Khor and Al Wakra for the ultimate satisfaction of the residents of both cities.
In order to successfully complete the project, a number of Al Khor and Al Wakra residents and representatives of many local service authorities were invited to several consultation meetings to give us input on their visions and aspirations for their cities.
A questionnaire was also conducted to evaluate the current issues, so that proposed development schemes would offer a higher quality living and work environment without compromising our cultural and social values.
Shortly after the draft land use plans were published, additional ideas were received, some of which had been studied with much care and consideration for possible implementation. Thereafter, the UPDA gathered relevant topographical, geographical and demographical information, conducted socio-economic analytical studies and prepared the structural plans necessary to identify the urban patterns and land uses envisioned as most optimal. The structure plans were utilized to develop zoning maps.
This exhibition is a part of the "Qatar Master Development Plan" currently being prepared as a result of the wisdom of His Highness Sheikh/ Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar and the Heir Apparent, Sheikh/ Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The comprehensive master plan will offer multiple levels of planning hierarchies: National, regional, local and neighborhood plans for long term development, reflecting cultural and social values of Qataris. The visions for al Khor and Al Wakra are presented in this exhibition today.
Al Khor and Al Wakra were selected in the early stages of the national master plan due to several social, cultural, and heritage considerations and because of their proximity to Ras Laffan Industrial city and Mesaieed Industrial city, which are experiencing tremendous economic growth.
A well thought out redevelopment plan for Al Khor and Al Wakra can alleviate traffic problems in Doha in the long term, particularly if we consider the statement recently released by the General Secretariat for Development Planning to the effect that Qatar population has soared to a massive 1.5 million persons, a definite sign for the need for expanded infrastructure and public services.
In conclusion, thank you once again for your attendance and thanks to the UPDA technical team for the industrious effort exerted with the Singaporean consultant "Surbana" who were vigilantly involved in the project and which resulted in valuable innovative designs.
Upon completing the 3D video and drawings illustrating the significant features in both projects, the audience, His Excellency the Minister of Municipal Affairs & Agriculture declared the exhibition open with an official ribbon cutting. His Excellency expressed his high regard for the exhibition physical models, presentation panels and animation which all reflect the future of Al Khor and Al Wakra.
Mr. Abdul Rahman Sorour, Head of Urban Development Section of the UPDA, and Project Manager of both the Al Khor and Al Wakra Projects, announced that the exhibition will remain open to the public until Thursday, 22nd of May, 2008. Similar exhibitions will also be organized in each of the respective city.
He further elaborated that the exhibition was planned and arranged well before the opening date. Over 60 presentation panels, the downtown physical models and the 3D animation have been worked on by the UPDA for the past month.
Mr. Sorour added that this exhibition is an important communication mechanism that the UPDA is using to connect the UPDA with the local population, government authorities and investors. These stakeholders are the ones most concerned with the physical development opportunities outlined in the Al Khor and Al Wakra plans that may be realized in the near future.
