ABOUT THE CENTRE PLANS
The Centre Plans establish defined central areas to focus development within the Municipalities. They comprise Volume 4 of the MSDPs, and are based on the spatial development strategy outlined in the QNDF in which development is organized within a 4-level hierarchy of Capital City, Metropolitan, Town and District Centres.
Each plan includes zoning regulations and guidelines to shape the character of development within that centre. Importantly, these regulations go beyond the typical use-based zoning to also include elements of form-based regulations which control the physical form of development in addition to land use. This allows the community to better shape the look and feel of its built environment. The centre plans incorporate several significant planning principles such as Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), mixing of land uses, activation of ground floors, development sustainability and pedestrian orientation. A unifying characteristic of all of the centres is a pattern of layers of land use density and activity intensity radiating out from a Metro station or other central public transit node.
Several benefits will accrue from the implementation of the centres plans including:
• Reduced journey times and traffic congestion;
• Public health improvement through reduced air pollution and increased opportunities for walking and bicycling trips;
• Contained urban sprawl and more efficient use of utilities and infrastructure;
• Optimized returns on infrastructure and real estate investment;
• More vibrant, active urban centers;
• Greater feeling of community identity and “sense of place”.
Centre Plans and Zoning Regulations
The Centre Plans introduce two new zoning classifications: Mixed-Use Zone and Special Centre Zone. The Mixed-Use Zone is assigned to sites that are determined appropriate for a combination of retail, office and residential uses. The Special Centre Zone is assigned to sites that meet specific criteria including large size, proximity to a Metro station and need for improved connectivity, permeability, accessibility or another intervention.
Apart from the MSDP zoning Regulation ,there are common zoning requirements for the Mixed-Use Zone and Special Centre Zone that apply to all of the sites with those designations. Each centre also has a set of Centre Specific Plans and Regulations that address the vision, objectives and building heights for that centre.
Download Centre Plans and Zoning Regulations, Version IV, published 2022/05/29.
CENTRES BY MUNICIPALITY
28 centres have been designated comprising 3 Capital City Centres, 3 Metropolitan Centres, 8 Town Centres and 14 District Centres. QNMP has compiled Centre Plans for 18 of these centres including 7 Town Centres and 11 District Centres. The other 12 centres are either currently under study subject to strategic decisions, or are planned and being developed by other entities (with the final plans having been reviewed and approved by QNMP).
See the table below for additional details regarding all 28 centres
NO |
Name of Centre |
Hierarchy |
Municipality |
1 |
West Bay * |
Capital City Centre |
Doha Municipality |
2 |
Doha Downtown * |
Capital City Centre |
Doha Municipality |
3 |
Airport City ** |
Capital City Centre |
Doha Municipality |
4 |
Lusail ** |
Metropolitan Centre |
Al Daayen Municipality |
5 |
Al Rayyan North (Education City) ** |
Metropolitan Centre |
Al Rayyan Municipality |
6 |
Al Rayyan South * |
Metropolitan Centre |
Al Rayyan Municipality |
7 |
Al Saad |
Town Centre |
Doha Municipality |
8 |
Al Matar |
Town Centre |
Doha Municipality |
9 |
Gharrafa |
Town Centre |
Doha/Al Rayyan Municipality |
10 |
Umm Qarn |
Town Centre |
Al Daayen Municipality |
11 |
Umm Slal Mohammad
|
Town Centre |
Umm Slal Municipality |
12 |
Al Shamal |
Town Centre |
Al Shamal Municipality |
13 |
Al Shahaniya* |
Town Centre |
Shahaniya Municipality |
14 |
Dukhan (QP Industrial City) ** |
Town Centre |
Al Rayyan Municipality |
15 |
Najma |
District Centre |
Doha Municipality |
16 |
Umm Ghuwailina |
District Centre |
Doha Municipality |
17 |
Rawdat Al Khail |
District Centre |
Doha Municipality |
18 |
Fereej Kulaib |
District Centre |
Doha Municipality |
19 |
Nuaija |
District Centre |
Doha Municipality |
20 |
The Pearl ** |
District Centre |
Doha Municipality |
21 |
Wholesale Market * |
District Centre |
Doha Municipality |
22 |
Lubaib |
District Centre |
Al Daayen Municipality |
23 |
Rawdat Al Hammam |
District Centre |
Al Daayen Municipality |
24 |
University ** |
District Centre |
Al Daayen Municipality |
25 |
Al Soudan |
District Centre |
Al Rayyan Municipality |
26 |
Karaana |
District Centre |
Al Rayyan Municipality |
27 |
Barwa City ** |
District Centre |
Al Rayyan Municipality |
28 |
Jumailiya |
District Centre |
Shahaniya Municipality |
* Excluded from current Center Programs for regulations since these are under construction or under study
** Excluded from current Center Programs for regulations since these are being developed by others