Qatar is Committed to Making its Cities Environmental And Human Friendly

57th Conference of the International Organization of City and Region Planners for 2021

HE the Minister of Municipality Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie affirmed that the Qatari capital, Doha, has been able to achieve one of the most inspiring urban development models in the Middle East and even globally, and has also proven with all its sustainable urban planning, flexibility, human-centred development and diversification of the economy, its full readiness for an era After oil.

This came in the speech which HE the Minister opened today, in the 57th Conference of the International Organization of City and Region Planners for 2021, which discusses regional and global issues and challenges for planning better cities in the post-COVID-19 era and climate change.

HE the Minister of Municipality pointed out that the main theme of the conference, "Urban Planning Launching: New Times, Better Places, Stronger Communities", was wisely done to inspire city planners around the world to come to Doha and share experiences and ideas to achieve their common goal of a better future for people-friendly cities, calling for new approaches and creative methods of planning in order to find better places for stronger communities.

HE the Minister of Municipality noted that this conference is held only one year before Qatar hosts the 2022 World Cup, and considered this an opportunity for the whole world to see the wonderful preparations made by Qatar to host this event, to be a unique experience, especially from the perspective of urban planning, sustainability and quality of life.

His Excellency stressed that Qatar has committed itself to making all its cities, especially Doha, a model for environmentally friendly cities through sustainable urban planning, indicating that this conference will be a professional and scientific forum, during which global planning experiences will be exchanged at the highest levels of international and regional practices in the field of urban planning. Pointing out that Qatar, as it has always been accustomed to supporting international organizations working in development and humanitarian affairs, provided additional support to the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) of 50 thousand euros, in addition to the main support for hosting of 100 thousand euros, in appreciation of the difficult conditions generated by the repercussions of the Corona-19 pandemic.

The Minister said that Qatar is a hospitable country with a unique history and heritage and Doha is at the top of the list of the safest cities on earth. We have amazing historical, social, cultural, creative, planning and humanitarian experiences that we want you all to experience by being Our welcome guests in Doha, he added.

HE Minister of Municipality Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie opened the exhibition, which shows through its pavilions and exhibits how open planning can build better cities and communities. 

President of ISOCARP Martin Dubbeling, delivered a speech at the opening session of the congress, in which he stressed the importance of this edition of the conference in Doha and the vitality of the issues that it will address in terms of strategic planning for cities, exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, building friendships, and discussing research and academic projects in this field among all participants, as well as affirm commitment to planning and designing for better cities.

He stated that all participants are looking forward to the various activities of the congress, including presentations, research and contributions from experts and the organization, as well as holding workshops and sessions with the participation of relevant local, regional and international planners, including young people, affirming that the meeting of all in this important conference in Doha, especially after the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic calls for adapting to climate change to build better cities.

For his part, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of 57th ISOCARP Congress, Eng. Mubarak Al Nuaimi, stated that every fair observer of urban and planning development in Qatar feels the quantitative and qualitative development that has produced a set of strategies and landmark projects, affirming that Qatar has an integrated future planning vision based on its National Vision 2030, and absorbs the concepts of comprehensive sustainability.

In his speech at the opening session of the congress, he noted that Qatar deserves to host this event, as it is witnessing an unprecedented urban and planning renaissance, pointing out that what happened in Doha and other Qatari cities during the last decade deserves pride and to be presented to the whole world through Planning professional activities of ISOCARP.

He affirmed that the planning vision of Qatar is based on the concepts of human and environment-friendly cities, urban development based on knowledge, gradual urban centers, preserving the identity and authenticity of the urban character of Qatari cities, and the growing interest in public transport networks, providing parks, open and recreational spaces, and establishing a distinguished infrastructure that qualifies the country to be an incubator for global events, including the uniqueness of Qatar to be fully prepared to receive the 2022 FIFA World Cup, more than a year before its date.

Eng. Al Nuaimi explained that the integrated file presented by the State of Qatar to the organization qualified it to win the hosting of this important congress amid international competition, which is increasingly important by choosing its main axis, the open planning: new times, better places and stronger societies, pointing out that the conference is characterized this year as the most important event in the planning circles that are taking place and the world is approaching a full recovery from the repercussions of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and the isolation, confusion and lack of communication that it caused.

He added that the congress interacts with the Climate Summit currently being held in the Scottish city of Glasgow to discuss the repercussions of climate change, which made it important to ensure that the axes of discussion include the concepts of comprehensive sustainability, healthy and smart cities, raising the quality of life and the importance of resilient cities that resist challenges.

He stated that the congress is also distinguished by the invitation of four main lecturers who have global value in the field of urbanization and planning, in addition to the national lecturer and the Qatari architect, Engineer Ibrahim Al Jaidah.

Urban planning has developed in the State of Qatar, such as the city of Msheireb, the beating heart of Doha, the incubator of this congress, the Education City, Aspire Gardens, Lusail City, and the stadiums equipped to receive the FIFA World Cup.

In press statements, Director of the Urban Planning Department Eng. Abdulla Al Karani at the Ministry of Municipality, said that the 57th International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) World Planning Congress 2021, which lasts for several days, is an important event in this area hosted by Qatar, and will have a global resonance in terms of the participation of a distinguished group of global, regional, and local planners.

He explained that the conference will discuss global planning matters, urban planning strategies, and other related issues, stressing that local planners will benefit from all the ideas and global urban plans that will be put forward in the conference, which reflects their ideas and their response in this regard.

For her part, Eng. Amna Al-Jaber, director of the conference, said that 350 people from around the world are participating in the conference, including 150 planners who participate remotely.

She said that the conference program and its activities are full and rich, and include trips to Al Wakrah City, National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), Lusail City, Aspire, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), and Msheireb Properties, noting that it is the first conference that includes holding external workshops in these places.

She pointed out that about 200 working papers will be discussed by the conference within its urban planning agenda, including how to reach solutions in these areas, and reminded the importance of this conference, which Qatar won hosting in 2018 as the first country in the Middle East, indicating that its 58th session will be held in Belgium.

For her part, head of the community outreach team at the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Amna Al-Juhani, said that the accompanying exhibition reviews developments, strategies and processes that help launch urban planning practices for better cities and local communities.

Inspired by the conference's five research paths are (inclusiveness and empowerment, health and wellness, intelligence and development, flexibility, adaptation, uniqueness and communication), visitors and participants will be able to see the interrelationships between the various entities in Qatar and their successful partnerships in terms of creating new times, better places and stronger communities.

Urban planning is not just about zoning systems, but about understanding the needs of society, managing cities and creating opportunities for their people to grow and prosper among the various entities in Qatar and their successful partnerships, she said.

During the opening session, presentations were presented explaining the extent of development, planning and comprehensive urban development witnessed by the various municipalities of the country, which in turn contributes to making Qatar an attractive place and a unique tourist destination.

ISOCARP is a global non-governmental association founded in 1965 in an effort to bring together recognized and highly qualified spatial planners in an international network. Its main office is located in The Hague, the Netherlands, and has been officially accredited as a non-governmental organization by the United Nations and the Council of Europe, with official consultative status as a recognized non-governmental organization with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and comprising more than 700 individual and institutional members in more than 85 countries.

SOURCE: QNA