News | Ministry of Transport

Monday, October 4, 2021

Minister Inaugurates Transport Engineering Conference

Doha – Qatar Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti today inaugurated the Transport Engineering Conference & Exhibition organized by the Qatar Society of Engineers under the sponsorship of MOTC. Concluding this Oct. 6, the event’s opening session was attended by several government officials representing transportation and infrastructure sectors. MOTC backs the conference due to its importance – the first of its kind being held in Qatar. Its events feature all engineering branches of transportation industry. The event offers a unique opportunity for exchange of expertise and knowledge in areas of transportation engineering and ways of benefiting from latest technologies and practices applied regionally and globally. During the exhibition, some MOTC professionals are making presentations on key sector activities such as developing strategic plans and concept designs for road networks, road networks assessment and surveys to improve their quality and traffic safety, and regulating land transport activities in line with laws and regulations released in this respect. Several MOTC professionals representing land and maritime transport affairs are also participating in conference sessions and panel discussions. There will be presentations on land transport activities at the exhibition. Presentations feature the news ideas that are necessary for a sustainable development of land transport sector and transportation.

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Minister Heads Qatar Delegation to 15th General Assembly of OTIF

Bern - DohaThe State of Qatar has participated in the 15th General Assembly of the Intergovernmental Organization for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), in Bern, Switzerland. The Qatari delegation was headed by Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti.

Sunday, September 26, 2021

MOTC Meets with French Businesspeople Delegation

Doha – QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications represented by MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Society Development, HE Ms. Reem Mohammed Al-Mansoori and the Acting Assistant Undersecretary of Government Information Technology, Ms. Mashael Ali Al-Hammadi, met with a delegation of French businesspeople that included Chairman and CEO of Total Mr. Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman of the Qatari French Committee at MEDEF International Mr. Guillaume Pepy, representatives from the French Qardan Association and a number of French company CEOs.The meeting discussed aspects of cooperation in the fields of transportation and ICT between Qatar and France and ways of further enhancing them, in addition to benefiting from the available investment opportunities in these fields.The meeting was attended by Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the French Republic HE Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani and Ambassador of the French Republic to the State of Qatar HE Jean-Baptiste Faivrev.

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Qatari Emiri Naval Forces Honors MOTC

Doha- MOTC has been honored by the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces in recognition of its efforts in training QENF personnel at several workshops that highlighted the Qatari maritime laws and several international maritime agreements. MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary, Maritime Transport Affairs, Dr. Saleh bin Fetais Al Marri received an honorary shield and an appreciation certificate from Commander of QENF H.E. Maj. Gen. (Sea) Abdullah bin Hassan Al Sulaiti. The workshops contributed to enhancing the participants’ expertise by introducing them to latest universal developments in the field, and raising their awareness of maritime legal regulations.

Saturday, September 25, 2021

The Ministry of Transport and Communications unveils Sila

Doha – Qatar The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) has unveiled Sila, the brand that brings together the State of Qatar’s transport modes into one network. Currently it includes the metro, bus, taxi and tram. Sila – which means ‘connection’ in Arabic – will be launched in phases, in collaboration with Qatar Railways Company, Mowasalat (Karwa), Qatar Foundation and Msheireb Properties. By bringing together Qatar’s transport services, Sila aims to improve the accessibility of the country’s transport network. Qatar’s transport sector has reached major milestones in recent years, thanks to new products and services, which have been primarily led by individual transport operators. The MOTC will continue this work, with its mission to connect transport modes through the Sila brand, providing seamless mobility for citizens, residents and visitors. In the coming weeks, Sila will launch the journey planning function on its app and website, allowing travellers to plan trips around the country in an integrated way by searching for the best route and combination of transport modes including buses, the Metro, metrolinks, trams, taxis, walking and driving. Travellers can also use the app and website to find out public transport information, such as station and stop locations, station layouts, timetables and routes. Once fully launched, Sila will bring together several projects and initiatives to connect all transport modes in the State of Qatar, improving integration and providing a seamless travel experience. “Today we take an important step towards transforming Qatar’s transport network and enhancing its efficiency and effectiveness,” said Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalid Al-Thani, Director of the Technical Affairs Department in the MOTC. “Sila will streamline the journeys that people take around the country, enhancing people’s connection to work, family and social activities, smartly and sustainably. We look forward to launching further phases of the project in the upcoming months.” Other initiatives – which will be unveiled in the near future – include integrated and contactless payment methods, introducing new services and transport modes and promoting the transport network through public awareness and marketing initiatives to reach a wide audience within The State of Qatar. Qatar’s citizens and residents are encouraged to follow Sila’s newly launched social media pages to get the latest updates. (Facebook: @silaqatar, Instagram: @sila_qatar & Twitter: @sila_qatar). About Sila: Sila is built on the powerful idea of improving the accessibility and integration of Qatar’s transport network for citizens, residents and visitors. The Ministry of Transport and Communications have launched Sila, the brand that brings together the State of Qatar’s transport modes into one network, in collaboration with transport providers. When fully launched, Sila will include a series of projects and initiatives designed to give people the smartest choices for travel, including contactless payment, integrated payment through the Sila card, and the Sila journey planning app and website. Qatar’s commitment to a future of world class mobility encompasses all that Sila is and strives to be – transforming the way we think and act to create a more connected and sustainable transport network for generations to come. Find us online:

Friday, September 24, 2021

Qatar in International Top Rankings in Digital Transformation

Doha – Qatar Qatar has come in Group A of two indices, namely Public Service Delivery Index (PSDI) and GovTech Enablers Index (GTEI), according to the World Bank report titled “GovTech Maturity Index: The State of Public Sector Digital Transformation”. It has also ranked in Group B in terms of “high significant focus on GovTech” with respect to two indices, namely Core Government Systems Index (CGSI) and Citizen Engagement Index (CEI), as outlined in the same report issued by the World Bank. The report comprises a comprehensive overview of the development achieved in economies of 198 world countries with respect to their digital service delivery, and they are classified into four categories based on GovTech maturity. The report provides a global glimpse on GovTech, in addition to different examples of practices and guidelines to use technology in the public sector services. It is also based on 48 key indicators and divided into four indices, which are: Core Government Systems Index (CGSI): It measures the government approach towards digital transformation by checking e-services, enterprise architecture, information and financial management systems. Public Service Delivery Index (PSDI): It unveils file transfer and tax return submission services, e-payment means, among others. Citizen Engagement Index (CEI): It measures citizen participation and the presence of means to find out about their opinions, in addition to easing their use of government portals. GovTech Enablers Index (GEI): It is measured through unveiling the institutions and laws of a government, as well as its digital skills and launch of innovative programs to promote government technologies. The World Bank evaluates the performance of countries worldwide in terms of digital transformation and GovTech maturity based on four groups (A, B, C and D). Whereas Group A represents the countries with an extremely high significant level in GovTech maturity and adoption of public sector digital transformation, Group B represents the countries that have achieved a high level in GovTech maturity and adoption of public sector digital transformation. Among the key impacts in the GovTech Maturity Index is the wide spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19); the matter which resulted in the isolation of so many people in their homes and affected the regular work practices of governments all around the world. This crisis has also unveiled the urgent need for adopting the latest technologies to promote good administration that is based on simplicity and efficiency to meet citizens’ needs.