Transport in Qatar

= Public Transport =

In 2002, the Qatari government launched Mowasalat [News article announcing launch of company website. [http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/display_news.asp?section=local_news&month=march2006&file=local_news200603267453.xml] Retrieved 19 June 2008] , a company 100% owned by the Royal family, managed and operated by the state authorities to ensure the smooth provision of "integrated ground transport services" for the entire country with a growing population of more than 1,400,000 people. Previously, 3,000 privately-owned orange taxis used to rule the streets of Qatar but the government took them off the roads as they saw them as a threat to the new Mowasalat taxis. There has been much controversy over this move, as it is now very hard to find a taxi in DohaFact|date=June 2008.

Most of the drivers of Mowasalat—many hired from the Indian subcontinentFact|date=June 2008—were said to be trained on roads, street names & key destinations, but the results of this are debatable, as the quality of service is disparaged amongst the citizens of DohaFact|date=June 2008. There are complaints of drivers not having even a basic knowledge of either Arabic or English languages, not knowing any of the main roads in Doha and even about basic hygieneFact|date=June 2008.

Public buses now service over 35 routes covering most locations of Doha with very minimal fares making public transport in Qatar a thrifty solution to the problems of rush hours and parking difficulties.

Presently, Mowasalat, under the brand-name 'Karwa', now operates more than 3,000 new and well-maintained taxi sedans including the recently acquired airport taxis with spacious cabins using the 2007 Ford Freestars, and more than 120 public buses, school buses and private-hire coaches. In addition, its Doha Limousine Service has 100 standard (unbranded, no Karwa logo) limousines and 200 (Jaguar XJ) VIP units that are mostly placed at the Doha International Airport and at major hotels.

Railways

0 km

In August 2008 Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment appointed Deutsche Bahn of Germany to plan a railway network in Qatar. [cite news | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2008/08/8787/db_to_develop_qatar_rail_plan.html | title=DB to develop Qatar rail plan | publisher="Railway Gazette International"| date=2008-08-29 | retrieved=2008-08-30]

Railway links with adjacent countries

* Saudi Arabia - no

Highways

"total:"1,230 km
"paved:"1,107 km
"unpaved:"123 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Ports and harbours

Persian Gulf

* Doha
* Halul Island
* Umm Sa'id

Merchant marine

"total:"24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totalling 721,756 GRT/DWT|1,132,510|metric|first=yes
"ships by type:"cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, petroleum tanker 5 (1999 est.)

Airports

4 (2006 est.)
Doha International Airport has recently undergone development costing over $1 billion US. The development was commenced in mid-2005, and the new Doha Airport is set to be one of the largest in the world. With the first phase [terminal 1] set to be completed some time in 2008.

Airports - with paved runways

"total:"2
"over 3,047 m:"2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

"total:"2
"914 to 1,523 m:"1
"under 914 m:"1 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

References

See also

* Qatar