Date established: 2004

Main business sector: Public infrastructure

President: Nasser bin Ali al-Mawlawi

Tel: (+974) 4 495 000

Web: www.ashghal.gov.qa

Road projects

Estimated value $12.7bn

Ashghal has separated its planned road schemes into major highway projects and local roads.

The Expressway Programme will provide vital transportation links across Qatar connecting key cities, towns and villages with modern national freeways and urban arterial routes.

Qatar’s entire network of expressways, highways and local roads has been reviewed as part of this programme. Fundamental improvements and enhancements of existing infrastructure have been planned. Ashghal’s stated strategy is “to develop a road network that bene?ts all communities and provides sustainable traf?c management solutions that match those available in advanced countries”. 

The programme is a nationwide road infrastructure scheme that will improve connections across Doha and the rest of Qatar. It will deliver more than 900km of new roads and associated underpasses, ?yovers and multi-level interchanges to free up congested traffic. Ashghal is responsible for the design, construction, delivery and maintenance of all expressways and major roads in Qatar.

In 2011, the US’ KBR was appointed as the project manager for the major highway projects. KBR will provide project management services for 29 major road projects over the next five years, including the remaining packages of the Doha expressway.

In June 2013, Ashghal awarded 10 design and construction contracts worth QR7.2bn under its Expressway Programme. In January 2014, Ashghal awarded a further three contracts worth a total of QR7.6bn under the scheme.

There are currently $7.7bn-worth of projects under execution as part of the Expressway Programme. A further $5bn-worth of projects are in the prequalification stage.

The Local Roads and Drainage Programme is a QR50bn scheme that includes the development of roads, drainage and new infrastructure in all areas of Qatar to improve accessibility.

The programme is designed to upgrade and maintain the existing roads and drainage network across the country’s ?ve regions (Qatar North, Qatar South, Doha North, Doha South and Doha West areas).

The authority has partnered with the US’ Parsons Brinckerhoff as chief project consultant to efficiently oversee the implementation of the programme in a safe and sustainable manner, using innovative and cutting-edge approaches.

In December, Ashghal launched a new contracting strategy for its local roads programmes under which 75 companies have been prequalified to develop more than 200 projects over the next five to seven years.

The aim of the contracting strategy was to establish a core group of companies to carry out work as needed, based on a predetermined set of prices and specifications. The strategy also seeks to enhance the role of Qatari firms by requiring that successful bidders must either be Qatari-registered corporates or joint ventures of an international firm with a Qatari partner that owns at least 50 per cent of the project company.

Sharq Crossing

Estimated value $12bn

Ashghal is also preparing to tender design and build construction contracts on its estimated $12bn Sharq Crossing scheme in 2014.

The 12km-long project, which was officially launched in December 2013, is one of the biggest infrastructure schemes planned in Qatar. It involves building three bridges interconnected by subsea tunnels across Doha Bay, which, when completed, will link Doha’s new Hamad International airport with the city’s cultural district of Katara and the central business area of West Bay.

Ashghal is planning to start the prequalification process for the design and build contracts at the end of February, ahead of tendering contracts in the second half of 2014. The first contract awards are expected to be made at the end of 2014 or in early 2015.

Although not yet finalised, it is understood that there will be four to seven packages covering the construction of the bridges and tunnels.

Ashghal still has to hire a consultant to finalise the packages and prepare the tender documents. Firms are currently preparing to submit bids at the end of February for this role, which will involve working closely with Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, who prepared the concept designs for the bridges.

The crossing will include three interconnected bridges, named West Bay, Cultural City and Al-Sharq, all between 600 metres and 1,310 metres in length. The designs are inspired by flying fish, and one of the bridges will have a two-deck structure incorporating a recreational park accessible by an elevated walkway and a funicular railway.

The authority has appointed US-based Fluor Corporation as the programme management consultant to supervise the construction.

Work on the project is expected to be completed before the Fifa World Cup in 2022.

Inner Doha Re-sewerage Implementation Strategy

Estimated value $2.7bn

The Inner Doha Re-sewerage Implementation Strategy (Idris) project involves building a series of deep tunnels that will serve the Doha South catchment area over the next 50 years. The scheme will eliminate the need for pumping stations in the Doha South area.

The project involves 76 kilometres of lateral interceptor sewers, 33km of trunk sewer, a terminal pump station, a New Doha South sewage treatment plant, 92km of treated sewage effluent return pipes and the decommissioning of 37 existing pump stations.

In August 2013, firms were asked to submit prequalification entries for a consultancy contract, but a winner has not yet been announced.

New Doha Zoo

Estimated value $200m

Last November, Ashghal awarded the local office of KEO International Consultants and US-based HHCP+PJA a $63m contract for the design and construction supervision of the New Doha Zoo project. The appointment follows the selection of HHCP+PJA to develop a concept masterplan for the zoo in December 2012.

Construction work on the project is expected to start in 2014, with completion planned for 2017. Nasser bin Ali al-Mawlawi, president of Ashghal, told MEED that the cost of the project will be finalised once the design work is complete, adding that the main construction packages will be tendered in 2014.

The New Doha Zoo will cover an area of 750,000 square metres, which will be about seven times larger than the existing zoo. It will be divided into three regions: an Africa safari zone; an Asia woodland area; and a South American rainforest. The design also incorporates a hotel for each of these themed areas.

Ashghal is evaluating bids for an early works contract for the project. The deal covers enabling of demolition works at the site, including knocking down all existing structures, earthworks, landscaping and the installation of temporary site accommodation, utilities and services.

The project manager for the development is the UK-based Mace Group.

In 2011, 503,000 visitors came to the existing Doha Zoo, up from 407,000 in 2010, according to official figures. Over that period, the number of animals and birds dropped from 1,689 to 1,428, including 109 insects.