BRIEF ON THE Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning
The Ministry of Municipality & Urban Planning is considered one of the largest public service ministries that interact with the day to day affairs of general public. The Ministry contributes through its departments, municipalities and centers in the overall progress and comprehensive development undergoing by the State of Qatar under the enlightened wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, The Emir and the Crown Prince his Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and under the directives of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al Thani. The Ministry offers many services to the citizens and residents in the field of municipal services which include maintenance of local roads, general public cleaning, pest control, food control in terms of its sale locations, its storage and exchange, monitoring of markets and retail outlets, issuing of building permits and advertisement permits, issuing of commercial licenses. Additionally, these services include management of public parks and promenades, plantation of trees and promoting greenery all over the state of Qatar and provide advice and consultations to the public with about the rehabilitation and maintenance of their gardens. Under the directives of His Excellency Sheikh Abdul Rahman Bin Khlifa Bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning, the Ministry strives to extend the provision of electronic services to the public to all its services, in its drive to reach its objective of a paperless electronic government in the State of Qatar. The establishment of the first Municipal Affairs Ministry in Qatar goes back to the year 1997 through a decree of Law No. 24 which set the duties of the Ministry and its Departments. These duties were amended in 1990 after the cancellation of the Ministry of Industry and Agriculture by delegating the duties and functions of this Ministry that were related to agricultural affairs to the Ministry of the Municipal Affairs which became the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture. More duties were added to this Minsitry when it was merged with the Ministry of Public Works in 1993 by decreeing Law Number (20) for the organizing The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture and outlining its duties to include the duties of the functions of public works. In 2004, Law Number (1) was decreed to establish the Public Works Authority and in the same year Law Number (15) was also decreed to establish the Urban Planning and Development Authority. Therefore, the duties of the Ministry were confined to the municipal affairs and agriculture through the provisions of Law Number (23) decreed in 2005. On 5th April 2009, H.H. the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, issued Emiri Decision No. 16 of 2009 defining ministries scope of competence. The text of the decision in article 10 concerning Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning states
Scope of Competence of Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning
1. Propose and prepare architectural plans in the state level, supervise the execution in coordination with the competent authorities. 2. Survey of lands and its divisions, prepare survey plans for the state, manage the state property, and the provision and allocation of land as required by the governmental bodies. 3. Study the recommendations of the Central Municipal Council and take an appropriate decision. 4. Expropriation of property and temporary custody of it for public interest. 5. Supervise the establishing of public utilities administration, sub roads of the cities, villages and its maintenance. 6. Propose and implement municipal projects of buildings, parks, and landscapes. 7. Supervise establishing and organizing buildings. 8. Prepare and execute the systems and the programmes for general cleanliness. 9.Supervise practices of Engineering Profession. 10.Supervise the grave yards and services of the deceased.
The Ministry overlooks seven (7) municipalities which are: Doha, Al Rayyan, Al Wakra, Umm Slal, Al Dhaghayen, Al Khor, Al Thakhira and Al Shamal. Each Municipality, within the limits of geographic borders, proposes new policies, programs, plans and decrees and the necessary budgets to progress their provinces, enhance their development and upgrade their public facilities in coordination with the concerned Departments within the Ministry.
