The Minister of Transportation, H.E. Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, has presented the Autonomous Vehicle Strategy at the “Sustainable Transportation and Legacy for Generations” Conference and Exhibition in Doha, Qatar. This strategy, which will extend over the next five years, aims to establish regulations for the use of autonomous vehicles in the country.
The two-day event, attended by prominent officials including the Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the Governor of Qatar Central Bank, H.E. Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani, was inaugurated by the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
Qatar’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its National Environment and Climate Change Strategy and the pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV2030). The Minister of Transportation highlighted the progress made in the adoption of electric buses, with nearly 70% of the public bus system running on electricity by the third quarter of 2023. The goal is to electrify the entire fleet by 2030.
Efforts are also being made to establish standards and specifications for electric vehicles (EVs) and create a center for inspecting and verifying EV compliance. The Minister emphasized the development of infrastructure and support services in line with the guidelines of H.H. the Amir, resulting in a cohesive and sustainable transportation system.
In the maritime sector, the expansion of Al Ruwais Port is crucial to improving regional trade exchange and accommodating growing maritime traffic. Qatar’s maritime transport sector continues to invest overseas through QTerminals, expanding its presence in ports worldwide.
In the aviation sector, Qatar recorded over 26,500 aircraft movements between Hamad International Airport and Doha International Airport during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The implementation of radar systems has facilitated the management of the Doha Flight Information Region.
The conference featured panel discussions on various topics, including electric and sustainable transportation, multimodal public transportation, and private sector involvement in transportation system development.
The launch of Qatar’s Autonomous Vehicle Strategy is a clear example of its commitment to sustainable and intelligent transportation systems, as well as its focus on environmentally-friendly solutions.