Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Municipality has made 94% progress in preparing the National Strategy for Open and Recreational Areas, a major initiative aimed at expanding recreational destinations, strengthening green infrastructure and improving the quality of urban life across the country.
The strategy is among the key initiatives highlighted in the Ministry of Municipality’s Annual Achievement Report for 2025, reflecting continued efforts to develop an integrated and sustainable urban planning framework that responds to Qatar’s future growth and development needs.
The project aims to establish a comprehensive strategic framework for open spaces, recreational activities and sports facilities. It includes plans to add new recreational destinations and amenities while creating an interconnected national network of green corridors, supporting a more integrated and sustainable urban environment.
The initiative is part of wider efforts by the Urban Planning Affairs Sector to enhance the quality and functionality of public spaces and ensure that recreational and green areas form an integral part of Qatar’s urban development.
Another major achievement was the Smart Rainwater Monitoring Project, which reached 99.8% completion. The project involves establishing a unified network for measuring rainwater levels to provide more accurate future information and data. It also seeks to establish a standardised shared database among all relevant entities in Qatar, supporting improved planning and management of rainwater and related infrastructure.
The ministry also achieved 100% completion in preparing the GCC Design Standards Manual, contributing to the development of common design standards and strengthening consistency in planning and design practices across GCC countries. The Hydrogeological Assessment Project for Qatar recorded 96% progress.
The project focuses on studying and evaluating the country’s groundwater system and its impact on geological components, while examining hydrogeological factors that influence the long-term sustainability of groundwater resources.
The sector also recorded 96% progress in developing planning requirements and standards for small plots located within urban centres. The initiative seeks to establish appropriate planning frameworks for these plots and ensure their effective integration into existing urban areas.
Meanwhile, the Green Belt Development Strategy reached 92% completion, supporting efforts to strengthen green infrastructure and integrate environmental considerations into urban planning.
The ministry also completed 100% of the preparation of the Green Roof Planning Standards Manual, establishing planning guidelines for green roofs as part of efforts to promote sustainable development and enhance the environmental performance of the built environment.
The Urban Planning Department also made progress in developing and approving a number of regulatory guides and requirements during 2025. These included the Commercial Activities Classification Guide for Urban Centres and the GCC Urban Design Guide.
The department also approved regulations governing desert houses (Bait Al Bar) and incorporated them into the Building Code. In addition, it completed the technical preparation of the Container Requirements Guide, which is currently pending approval. Other achievements included approving mechanisms for developing plots affected by the Doha Metro, as well as modifying the road setbacks surrounding heritage plots to address their specific planning requirements.
The ministry said these achievements support greater integration between urban planning and sustainable development requirements, reflecting an approach that combines infrastructure development, environmental protection, recreational facilities and the preservation of heritage assets. Taken together, the projects demonstrate the ministry’s continued efforts to modernise Qatar’s urban planning system, strengthen regulatory frameworks and create more sustainable, connected and liveable urban environments in line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.
