Overview
Qatar is experiencing tremendous growth in infrastructure and industrial development. His Highness the Emir of Qatar is implementing a strategic development of Doha and Qatar over the next 10 to 15 years. In order to achieve this objective, there will have to be significant growth in the importation of raw materials and goods into the country. The existing port, Located in central Doha, is reaching its maximum throughput capacity, and its geographic location is not compatible with the longer-term development planned for the city. The creation of a new commercial port, outside of the city’s boundaries, will provide a world-class port facility that will cater to the future growth of the country. It will allow all of the operations of the existing port to be relocated and will provide additional capacity and room for future growth. The transfer of the existing port operations is one of a number of measures being taken to help alleviate the traffic congestion on the roads of Doha. The new port will be positioned to maximize the synergy with future industrial areas and economic zones, as well as the existing industrial city of Mesaieed.
The New Port Project’s (NPP) primary objectives are:
- Serve the expanding trade needs for Qatar, including acting as a catalyst for export industry development;
- Compete strongly with other regional ports to serve the wider Gulf market; and
- Facilitate market entry by international port operators and provide a counterbalance to dominant regional port businesses.
The NPP is planned on four cornerstones:
- Efficiency and reliability
- Flexibility and future proofing
- Sustainability, safety and security and
- Architectural identity
Under the guidance of the NPP Steering Committee
(NPP SC), a Master Plan has been developed that provides the development objectives, requirements, layout and design of the New Doha Port.
The NPP SC has selected AECOM as the Programme Management Consultant; WorleyParsons in association with Royal Haskoning to prepare the Master Plan and serve as the Engineering Design Consultants; and COWI will serve as the Environmental Consultants.