Transport
From The Report: Qatar 2022
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Qatar’s air and sea ports have long been central to the country’s economic expansion. Most recently, the 2010 announcement that the country would host the 2022 FIFA World Cup accelerated the government’s drive to upgrade transport infrastructure, prompting significant increases in public financing. There is also a renewed emphasis on sustainability in the sector, as the development of environmentally friendly infrastructure and services is a key component of Qatar National Vision 2030. Indeed, the more efficient movement of people and goods is at the heart of the country’s broader economic development plans, and the diversification of trade routes helped the sector and the wider economy manage recent disruptions. With the roll out of Covid-19 vaccines having facilitated a return to economic activity and travel worldwide in 2021, along with the lifting of the economic blockade early that year, Qatar’s transport sector appears well placed to build on its role as an engine for broad-based growth.

This chapter contains interviews with Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Managing Director and CEO, Qatar Rail, and Minister of Municipality; and Neville Bissett, Group CEO, QTerminals.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Steady progress: Infrastructure development across the sector aims to boost handling capacity and connectivity
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Qatar’s air and sea ports have long been central to the country’s economic expansion. The 2010 announcement that the country would host the 2022 FIFA World Cup accelerated the government’s drive to upgrade transport infrastructure, prompting significant increases in public financing. There is also a renewed emphasis on sustainability in the sector, as the development of environmentally friendly infrastructure and services is a key component of Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV). Indeed, the more…

Interview

The smarter option: Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Managing Director and CEO, Qatar Rail; and Minister of Municipality, on plans to improve the ease, security and use of public transport services
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Interview:Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie What are the current priorities for the public transport system under Qatar National Vision 2030? ABDULLA BIN ABDULAZIZ BIN TURKI AL SUBAIE: A high-quality, integrated public transport network consisting of metro, tram and bus routes is vital to accomplishing the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. Current priorities include expanding mobility choices that reduce dependence on automobiles and increase public transport use, and providing…

Analysis

Link to the future: New urban rail works bolster intra- and inter-city connections
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Since its inception in 2011, government-owned railway company Qatar Rail has operated with a mandate to develop an efficient countrywide public transport system. This goal is guided by the diversification, sustainable development and social progress goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. The creation of a modern public rail network is intended to improve commute times, alleviate motorway traffic, reduce CO emissions, and provide convenient transport connections that will ultimately change the way people…

Interview

Heavy hauls: Neville Bissett, Group CEO, QTerminals, on local priorities and adaptability in the wider maritime industry
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Interview:Neville Bissett How will Qatar’s maritime trade benefit from the normalisation of regional relations and the positioning of Hamad Port as a trans-shipment centre? NEVILLE BISSETT: The fastest way to get products from A to B is not by ship. It is, however, the best means to transport a significantly high volume of products – more than via any other mode of transport. In this context, Hamad Port has been positioned as a trans-shipment centre in the upper Gulf region, although…

Analysis

Riding the rails: How the GCC Railway could revolutionise trade and transport in the Gulf, and improve connectivity within the region
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Following delays, the long-awaited GCC Railway looks likely to be revitalised – a move that could transform trade and connectivity across the Gulf. The initiative was given a significant boost in December 2021 when leaders of the six GCC countries approved the establishment of the GCC Railways Authority, the body that will oversee the coordination of the project. The decision marks a potentially significant development for rail infrastructure in the region. In 2009, after a decades-long debate,…