The administrative towers area in West Bay, 14 administrative streets and malls operating in the country have been allowed to conduct new commercial activities at their facilities.

Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, issued a decision allowing the practice of many vital commercial activities that support the diversity needed to develop investment and support investors, in the framework of the government’s keenness on strengthening the partnership between the public and private sectors and the participation of the private sector in the economic development projects in the country, Qatar News Agency reported yesterday.

According to the decision  the buildings have been granted permission to add new commercial activities like medical centres, colleges, nurseries, cultural centres, and health clubs.

The new initiative has come into force and the interested parties can apply to add new businesses to the department concerned at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) under certain rules and regulations.
The details about the initiative were given by the officials of the MME and Building Permit Complex at a panel discussion entitled “Allowing Commercial Activities in Areas and Streets in the Country” held yesterday at ‘Cityscape Qatar 2019’ exhibition.

“The initiative was taken under Qatar’s keenness to strengthen the bilateral partnership between the public and private sectors and to ensure their participation in the projects of economic development,” said Assistant Head of Urban Planning Department at the MME, Turki Fahad Al Turki, during the discussion.

He said that in the same context, the Ministerial Group headed by the Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, had adopted the recommendations submitted by both the Ministry of Municipality and Environment and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to encourage the private sector to participate in the economic development of the country.

“The recommendations include allowing the conduct of many vital business activities that support the diversity needed to develop investment and support investors,” said Al Turki. He said that the decision complements previous decisions taken by H E the Prime Minister and Interior Minister to support investment. “These recommendations include allowing commercial activities in a number of areas and streets in the country mainly at the Administrative Towers Area (West Bay Area) where commercial uses are permitted,” said Al Turki.

He said that educational activities permitted for administrative towers area are such as colleges, institutes and nurseries and medical activities such as primary health care centers, diagnostic and treatment centers, and clinics.

“Each case should be assessed on a case to case basis, and all regulations & planning requirements to be applied to ensure that they are compatible with the surrounding uses and activities, as well as ensure the quality of the provided service, and to avoid any negative impacts,” said Al Turkey.

The Head of Urban Design Department at the Department of Urban Planning Juma Sabah Juma said that 27 commercial activities were permitted within the administrative streets approved in the country.

He said that there are 14 administrative streets for offices in the country including Al Muntazah Street, Halul Street, Ali Bin Ali Taleb Street, Corniche Road, Al Jazeera Al Arabiya Street, C-Ring Road, D-Ring Road, Prince Street, Al Rawabi Street, Jaw’aan Street, Ibn Sina Street, Al Markhiya Street, Al Rayyan Street and Rawdat Al Khail Street.

Head of Building Permit Complex (Assigned) Khalid Juma Al Marzouqi said that various administrative activities were permitted to be added within the malls.  “These include, but not limited to, medical centers, cultural services, offices (considered as supportive activities) in order to achieve integration in the required services within the one facility,” said Al Marzouqi.

Speaking about the procedures to obtain the licenses for additional business activities, Al Marzouqi said that the interested parties can apply online through authorized consultancy firms with required documents and drawing. He said that the licensing department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment will study the application and give the approval. The candidates will approach to Civil Defense and Kahramaa for the certificates of completion, finally Ministry of Commerce and Industry will issue the license to begin the new commercial activities.