Since then, the Emir has decided the port will be moved 30 kilometres down the coast to Mesaieed. Finance Minister Yousuf Hussain Kamal had already confirmed on 30 September the Mesaieed project would go ahead.

Meanwhile, Qatar's Customs and Ports General Authority is seeking to double the capacity of the existing port in Doha. The city's current port has a capacity of 400,000 TEUs.

'If we get approval, the new space would add another 400,000 TEUs of space,' says Saif al-Swaidi, director of port operations in Doha. 'The port will not reach this new level for five years, but increasing capacity is a priority. Between 65 per cent and 70 per cent of Qatar's cargo is delivered through Doha.'

Doha's new port was originally planned for reclaimed land east of the new Doha International Airport. It would include a commercial port with capacity of about 1 million TEUs and a naval forces area.

The decree has meant that the road planned by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) linking the port with Al-Muntazah roundabout on the E ring road will also be changed.

Contractors were due to submit bids for the project - package nine of the Doha expressway - at the end of September, but the tender was cancelled the day before the closing date (MEED 28:9:07).

www.meed.com/transport