Qatar’s Transport and Communications Ministry (MOTC) has released the tender for four harbours that will have a combined total of 1,000 berths, according to the Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani).

The berths will be located in the harbours of Al-Ruwais, Al-Khor, Al-Zahira and Al-Wakra. All harbours are state-owned and increasingly frequented by boat owners, and operate under Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality and Environment.

Mwani, a  Qatari shareholding company, undertook the planning and technical studies including the design and drawings, which have been approved by the MOTC. Earlier, a working group was formed to conduct studies and draft plans for the establishment of the berthing spaces.

The project budget has also been approved, according to Nasser Qadar, director of Maritime Transport Licensing and Planning Department at the MOTC, and has been allocated to Mwani.

Execution timeline of the project once awarded is about 18 months.

The project will be implemented in an accelerated pace due to the growing number of private ships and boats in the country, Qadar said.

Mwani owns and manages Doha Port, Al-Ruwais Port and Hamad Port.