Qatar is moving away from a Doha-centric model for it’s urban planning in the future, according to Dr. Hossam Ibrahim, Environmental & Urban Planning Expert at the Ministry of Municipality & Environment, speaking at MEED’s Qatar Projects conference in Doha.

Dr. Ibrahim was referring to Qatar’s National Master Plan, which has a two-part vision aimed at developing eight municipalities.

Stage one is the National Development Framework, within which key infrastructure and strategic land uses are positioned, and policies for determining the shape and location of all new developments are laid out. The second stage, named the Municipality Spatial Development Plan, lays out the structure of development proposed in each municipality and ensure that agencies coordinate between them and the various other municipalities.

Dr. Ibrahim said this kind of plan was “essential in building world class cities”. He said this kind of master plan would create good opportunities for PPP, but in Qatar, “transparency is needed”.

The Qatar National Master Plan is being announced to investors and stakeholders, whilst training and consultation has already begun.

Taking in to account the different fiscal environments of the coming years, including oil prices, the major key change announced at MEED’s Qatar Projects for the master plan was that the Ministry of Municipality & Environment would be changing from centralisation in Doha, to development based on multi-centers, with many urban locals, both within the capital city and without. This, according to Dr. Ibrahim, is to create emphasis away from the urban heart, and in to more rural areas.