Ashghal awards QR12 billion in 13 contracts to upgrade roads, drainage and public buildings

Qatar, September 29, 2025

News Summary

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has awarded 13 contracts worth QR12 billion covering major road and drainage operation and maintenance, intelligent transport systems, four building projects and extensive rehabilitation works. The package includes O&M of strategic roads across North and South Qatar, deployment of ITS, construction of three new schools and upgrades to 40 schools, refurbishment and expansion of the Psychiatric Hospital, and comprehensive modernization of the 150‑hectare Al Zubara Horse Breeding Farm. Projects will use AI asset management, drones, robots, digital twins and laser inspection to improve durability, sustainability and support local skills development.

Ashghal awards 13 contracts worth QR12 billion for roads, drainage, schools, hospital and Al Zubara farm

Ashghal announced the award of 13 new contracts worth QR12 billion. These contracts focus on upgrading road and drainage networks, improving public buildings, and boosting quality of life. Work is expected to commence in October 2025 for the contracts. Drainage networks operation and maintenance works are expected to commence in Q1 2026.

What was awarded and why it matters

The package of projects is intended to strengthen infrastructure resilience, improve service delivery, and support long‑term planning linked to the national development vision. The awards were presented as a strategic step to enhance sustainability and integration of infrastructure and to consolidate leadership in the delivery of major national projects.

Scale and scope

The newly awarded contracts include infrastructure projects to develop road networks across the country. The contracts include O&M of strategic roads in both North and South Qatar and projects to develop and adopt intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Contracts were recently awarded to a group described as some of the world’s largest contractors.

Road assets, technology and maintenance terms

The projects aim to operate and maintain road assets using innovative technologies, including an AI‑based digital management platform, self‑driving vehicles for asset surveys, laser technology to proactively detect and deal with road defects, and smart systems to monitor road conditions. The O&M period extends to five years for all projects except the ITS project, which has an O&M period of three years. Works will employ innovative materials and technologies to enhance road durability and extend asset life.

Drainage systems and digital tools

Drainage networks operation and maintenance works are expected to commence in Q1 2026. Ashghal aims to increase reliance on latest technologies and innovations in drainage O&M, including robots and drones equipped with CCTV cameras to inspect assets, automation, digital twins, analytics to predict faults, smart control systems, and remote sensing technologies. The Enterprise Asset Management System (EAMS) will be enhanced. Maintenance priorities will be identified based on risks and integrated with Building Information Modeling (BIM). The new drainage asset‑management approaches are intended to contribute to environmental sustainability and climate‑change adaptation, which affect drainage networks.

Public buildings, schools, hospital and farm projects

The awarded building projects include four building projects. The four building projects include construction of three new schools, improvement of safety systems in 40 existing schools, refurbishment of the Psychiatric Hospital of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and renovation of Al Zubara Horse Breeding Farm.

Implementation of the three new schools is scheduled to begin in Q4 2025. The three new schools are a preparatory school for boys in Mebaireek, a preparatory/secondary school for boys in Mesaimeer, and a model school for boys in Fereej Al Soudan. The school projects will focus on using high‑quality, easy‑to‑maintain finishing materials to ensure an attractive, safe, and stimulating learning environment. A comprehensive project to modernize and modify 40 existing school buildings across various regions has also begun to meet latest Qatar Civil Defense standards for educational buildings.

Ashghal is preparing to launch a project to complete development of the Psychiatric Hospital of HMC in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health. Psychiatric Hospital implementation works are scheduled to commence in Q4 2025. The Psychiatric Hospital project includes renovating existing buildings, constructing a new patient building, and developing external infrastructure including improving the internal road network and providing new parking lots.

Ashghal will implement a Design & Build project to repair and renovate the Horse Breeding Farm in Al Zubarah in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. Al Zubara Horse Breeding Farm is described as one of the largest specialized farms in the world. The farm is located on Al Shamal Road, approximately 60 km north of Doha. The farm extends over an area of approximately 150 hectares. The Al Zubara farm project is scheduled to begin in October 2025 and includes comprehensive rehabilitation and modernization works for all buildings and facilities.

Road link projects and area development

As part of completing the highway network, Ashghal awarded a project to construct link roads from Al Mazrooah to Al Attoriya and Bu‑Thaila areas (zones 71 & 72) with a total length of 22 km. That link‑roads project aims to connect surrounding residential areas directly to the highway network and enhance the connection between Bu‑Thaila and Al Attoriya with Al Shamal Road, Al Khor Road, and Dukhan Road via Al Majd Road. The link‑roads project aims to support economic and agricultural activities in surrounding areas and provide vital services to farms. The link‑roads project aims to prepare the area for future urban development in line with the state’s vision and the national development plan.

Another project aims to provide an advanced road network in the Al Karaana area and implement integrated infrastructure within the project scope. Works in the Al Karaana project include construction of a 6.5 km road network to provide direct connection to Salwa Road and facilitate access to establishments and facilities in the area. The Al Karaana project also includes construction of a 4.7 km internal road network to regulate traffic in the camel racetrack. The Al Karaana project will provide traffic safety features, street lighting, parking lots, and landscaping. The Al Karaana project includes treated wastewater and irrigation networks totaling 17.5 km.

Procurement, partnerships and workforce development

A special meeting was held with several owners and CEOs of contracting companies as part of efforts to strengthen partnership with the private sector. The meeting was attended by representatives from Qatar Chamber and senior officials from Ashghal. The meeting explored future directions of infrastructure and building projects across the country and discussed shared goals for the upcoming phase. The authority reiterated commitment to the highest standards of transparency and credibility in the tendering and awarding process, ensuring fair competition, equal opportunity, and enhancing private‑sector confidence. Attention was drawn to the need for accuracy in both technical and financial proposals and the risks posed by unrealistic pricing strategies. Emphasis was placed on developing local employees and transferring knowledge through specialized training courses to build national capacity.

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Key features

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Additional Resources

• Gulf Times: Ashghal awards 13 contracts worth QR12 billion
• Wikipedia: Ashghal
• MEED: Qatar’s Ashghal awards $101m construction contracts
• Google Search: Ashghal construction contracts Qatar
• Zawya: Qatar expected to award schools contracts in Q1 2026
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Qatar education infrastructure
• MEP Middle East: Ashghal appoints KEO for major road supervision works in zones 71 & 72
• Google Scholar: intelligent transportation systems Qatar
• The Peninsula Qatar: Ashghal holds meeting with owners and CEOs of contracting companies
• Google News: Ashghal meeting contractors Qatar

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