The Impact of Rapid Motorization and Urban Growth: An Analysis of the City of Doha, Qatar

Abstract

Since the 1990s, Doha, the capital city of Qatar, has experienced rapid urban growth along with rapid motorization, which together have created new opportunities but also important challenges for the Qatari government. Urban sprawl, lack of planning strategy, harsh weather, and an absence of public transport are some of the reasons that private vehicles dominate the city. This article discusses three of the main impacts of rapid growth and motorization—environmental problems, physical fragmentation of the city, and social impact—and analyzes the Qatari government’s current efforts to resolve these problems. The article concludes that local policies should focus on two main areas of intervention: first, integrating land-use and transport planning; and, second, supporting a multi-modal approach to transportation (integrating different modes) that facilitates the shift from one option to another. Findings can be applied by extension to other major Gulf cities.