The 27th meeting of Their Excellencies the Ministers with Municipal Affairs in GCC countries was held in Doha where a guide to using solar panels on buildings in GCC countries was approved. The meeting, chaired by the Minister of Municipality H E Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, also approved guides for towing and seizing abandoned vehicles, as well as public health pest control facilities in GCC countries. The participants set the date for the third edition of the Gulf Municipal Week in 2025 in Kuwait, the 13th Gulf Municipal Work Conference in 2026, and the launch of the sixth session of the GCC Municipal Award in 2025-2026.
During the meeting, Minister of Municipality H E Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah highlighted Qatar’s achievements in providing sustainable and healthier options for its population. All cities in Qatar have been designated as ‘Healthy Cities’ by the World Health Organization, and 7 out of its 8 cities have joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. Qatar has also developed its building permit system and implemented a digital transformation project for all services provided by the Ministry of Municipality in line with the objectives of the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030.
The meeting focused on joint Gulf municipal action in various aspects such as strategic urban planning, urban environment, unified strategy for municipal work, service facilities on highways between GCC countries, and preparing Gulf national cadres in the field of municipal work. The Minister of Municipality emphasized the importance of achieving more goals in the field of joint Gulf municipal action to fulfill the aspirations and hopes of the peoples and citizens of the Council countries.
The meeting discussed the outcomes of the previous meeting in 2023, which included the launch of the electronic version of the Gulf Building Code, approval of the joint Gulf municipal action plan for the years 2024-2030, and approval of three Gulf guidance manuals. The Minister of Municipality extended his thanks to the General-Secretariat of the GCC for their contributions to the progress of joint Gulf municipal work through monitoring decisions and recommendations emerging from ministerial meetings, coordinating activities, and fostering cooperation among member states.
The meeting also addressed topics such as implementing Supreme Council’s decisions regarding municipal work, strategic urban planning, urban environment, Gulf Building Code, development of legislation and municipal control mechanisms, criteria and mechanisms for classifying contractors, and the joint Gulf municipal action plan for the years 2024-2030. It reviewed previous decisions on the Gulf Municipal Week, agreements with specialized organizations serving the municipal field, Gulf Municipal Work Conference, GCC Municipal Award, and highlighting Gulf municipal work in regional and international forums.
Overall, the 27th Meeting of Their Excellencies the Ministers concerned with municipal affairs in GCC countries aimed to exchange experiences and distinguished practices in various fields of joint municipal work and review the achievements made over the past years. The meeting highlighted the importance of ongoing coordination among GCC member states to enhance joint Gulf action and fulfill the aspirations of the peoples and citizens of the Council countries.
