Souqs undergo major beautification as part of Doha Central Development Project

The Souqs in Doha are getting a major facelift while undergoing major modifications and beautification works. The buildings in Souq area are set to wear a new look with there facades modified and there vicinities beautified. Thanks to the Doha Central Development and Beautification Projects by the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar for bringing the facelift while keeping there heritage elements intact. The works are on a fast track mode while covering the buildings of Souq Waqif, Souq Al Asiri, Souq Al Faleh, Souq Al Jabor, Souq Al Dira and Gold Souq. Modification and beautification of the facades of architectural buildings are carried out in these Souqs in order to accomplish the comprehensive developmental vision of the area. As part of the project, the façades of 55 buildings in these Souqs are modified. The project is aimed at enhancing the identity of the historical and cultural legacy of Qatar and respecting the country’s natural environment.

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has said that there is a plan to involve local artists in proposing and developing some artwork in the area while utilising the extensive expertise of artists to meet the needs in terms of idea and design.The works also include infrastructure development, construction of plazas, pedestrian paths and cycling paths. As part of the project, roadside slots for car parking are developed and they are fixed with meters to encourage the public to follow a healthy lifestyle and healthy means of transportation. The works also include increasing green areas, tree plantation, implementing street lighting networks, installing new traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, and new road signs. Also, the project is designed to benefit people with special needs. It includes wide pedestrian paths in conformity with international standards at these Souqs with connected paths that allow people with special needs to move freely without support of others. These are with the provision of dedicated parking lots for people with special needs. These projects will benefit all people and visitors of Qatar, especially the residents and business stakeholders of areas covered within the area. The project also aims to develop public places and plazas in the region to create attractive and lively places through the provision of services and aesthetic elements including retiring areas, benches, kiosks, display screens and visual artworks attracting visitors to socialize and enjoy the general view. This is in addition to beautifying the main and inner streets to raise the aesthetic value of streets, residential areas and vital centers, and to preserve the environmental balance.The works of Doha Central Development and Beautification Projects include seven major areas between Corniche and A Ring road including seven major streets. The main streets include Al Safiya Street, Sharaoh Street, Museum Street, Ali Bin Omar Al-Attiya Street, Jabr Bin Muhammad Street, Grand Hamad Street, Al Asmakh Street, Ali Bin Abdulla Street and Abdulla Bin Thani Street.