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In a joint
press conference held by H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jabor bin Jassem Al
Thani, acting President of Qatar Statistics Authority and Ali
Abdulla Al Abdulla, Director-General of the Urban Planning and
Development Authority, Sheikh Hamad announced the completion of the
Public Opinion Survey for the Qatar National Master Plan which
intended to guide the development of Qatar over the next 25 years. |
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Sheikh Hamad said the Public Opinion Survey was an important
instrument of the QNMP planning process. It was also a practical way
of involving the public in the master plan planning process by
directly impacting the QNMP. Since June 2008, the Urban Planning and
Development Authority (UPDA) and the Qatar Statistics Authority have
been jointly preparing the survey. The survey was administered
during November and December 2008 and was recently completed, he
added.
The information gathered from the survey, which covered 5,000
randomly chosen families, includes an assessment of the current
living environment and the needs and expectations of the public for
the future. Major highlights of the survey include:
Level of Satisfaction
- Both the Qatari and expatriate population strongly agree that
Qatar is a desirable place to live. The level of satisfaction with
Qatar as a place to live was very high for a majority of the
respondents (77%).
- The level of satisfaction with the current living environment
across various aspects was also generally high.
- The issue of traffic congestion generated the lowest level of
satisfaction (18%).
- The level of satisfaction with transportation is however, higher
in areas outside of the Greater Doha Area (54%).
- The level of satisfaction with over crowding and higher density of
population is lower in Qataris (only 29% answered ‘good’ or ‘very
good’) than for expatriates (35%). However, Qataris in Al Rayyan
City Area show a higher level of satisfaction (42%).
Priority Issues for Enhancement in the Area where the
Respondents Live
- The enhancement and availability of health care facilities and
parks are priority issues for both Qataris and expatriates.
- Qatari’s also see the issues of educational and government
facilities as important.
- For expatriates, both transportation and public bus services need
to be improved.
- The level of satisfaction with the convenience of access to public
parks is very high among expatriates inside the ‘B’ Ring Road Area
and between the B-D Ring Road Area. On the other hand, the level is
lower among Qataris in Umm Slal and Al Daayen City Area (34%), Al
Rayyan Area (36%), and for expatriates in the Industrial Area (27%).
Influential Factors for Choice of Residential Locations
- Both the Qatari and expatriate population agree that easy access
to facilities necessary for enjoyment of daily life is important.
This includes their place of work, their children’s schools,
commercial facilities, and other service facilities all of which are
major influential factors for choice of residential location.
- Qataris also consider the location of their accommodation in
relation to the: 1) distance from relatives and families, 2)
similarity of living styles, and 3) attachment to a particular area.
- For expatriates, the affordability of rent is an important factor
to influence their choice of residential locations. Although
affordability of rent is an important issue mainly for expatriates,
a small number of Qataris also expressed it as an issue.
- A majority of expatriates agreed that the location of large
shopping centers or malls should be located within walking distance
from their home (55%). However, Qataris in Al Wakra City Area (42%)
and Umm Slal and Al Daayen City Area (59%) disagreed with this
proposition.
Expectation for Qatar’s Future
- Both the Qatari and expatriate population agree that important
issues for the future of the country are:
1) Keeping Qatar safe
2) Providing good quality of education for all
3) Ensuring a peaceful, calm and relaxing lifestyle
4) Ensuring access to good health care
- Qatari’s view the maintenance of a traditional Arabic cultural
atmosphere as important for ensuring a better future for Qatar.
- The organization of different ethnic and social groups and
cultures living together in a friendly way is an important factor
particularly for expatriates.
Conclusion
The results of the Public Opinion Survey will be fully taken into
consideration as the Qatar National Master Plan is prepared.
Specifically, through the QNMP, the UPDA and its Consultant will aim
to enhance the current satisfaction levels amongst the residents and
visitors to Qatar, as well as help address some of the areas of
concern raised in the Survey.
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