Legislative Instruments

About the Council

About the National Planning Council

The National Planning Council formulates national development visions, strategies, and plans and oversees their implementation upon approval. Through the National Statistics Center, it seeks to establish a comprehensive statistical system for the State of Qatar and serve as the official source of national statistics.

Planning and Statistics in the State of Qatar

Timeline (1980 – 2008)

1980

Decree-Law No. (2) of 1980 was promulgated, establishing the Central Statistical Authority.

1998

Emiri Decision No. (1) of 1998 was issued, establishing the Planning Council.

1999

Decree-Law No. (17) of 1999 was promulgated, dissolving the Central Statistical Authority and transferring its functions to the General Secretariat of the Planning Council.

2006

Emiri Decision No. (39) of 2006 was issued, establishing the General Secretariat for Development Planning.

2007

Emiri Decision No. (25) of 2007 was issued, establishing the Statistics Authority.

2008

Emiri Decision No. 44 of 2008 was issued, adopting Qatar National Vision 2030 to foster prosperity for Qatar’s citizens, transforming Qatar into an advanced country capable of sustaining development and ensuring a decent standard of living for its people.

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Qatar National Vision 2030

Guiding Principles

Five major challenges

The vision included the main guiding principles:

Safeguarding public and personal freedoms.

Protecting moral and religious values and traditions.

Ensuring security, stability and equal opportunities.

This Vision outlines the defining characteristics of the future, while highlighting the key opportunities and challenges, as follows:

Modernization while preserving traditions

The needs of the current generation and the needs of future generations.

Targeted growth and uncontrolled expansion.

Development path and the size and quality of targeted expatriate labor force.

Economic growth, social development and environmental management.

Responsibilities

The Council oversees national development priorities through strategic planning, policy coordination, and cross-sector implementation. It supports evidence-based decision-making through reliable data, consistent standards, and robust regulatory frameworks, while monitoring project performance and promoting continuous improvement to advance long-term national objectives.

Ensure the realization of the goals and objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.

Oversee the implementation of the Third National Development Strategy 2024–2030.

Develop draft National Development Strategies and review their implementation plans, in coordination with the relevant entities and in consultation with the private sector and relevant civil society organizations, to achieve the national visions; and oversee their implementation following approval by the Amir or the Council of Ministers, as applicable.

Develop draft economic development and diversification strategies and their implementation plans, in coordination with the relevant entities, to enhance the State’s competitiveness; and oversee their implementation following approval by the Amir or the Council of Ministers, as applicable.

Formulate, review and periodically update development policies, in coordination with the relevant entities, to align with national directions and priorities and achieve the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.

Identify inconsistencies or conflicts in the implementation of development policies and plans among the relevant entities, and develop solutions and take the necessary measures to ensure alignment with national priorities.

Provide technical support to the relevant entities in the preparation of their strategic and implementation plans related to the National Development Strategies.

Approve draft strategic and implementation plans prepared by government entities, arising from their mandates, activities, direct directives and assignments issued to them, and initiatives proposed by those entities within their areas of competence.

Oversee the development and preparation of an integrated automated system to monitor and follow up on the implementation of the National Development Strategy and other strategies of government and relevant entities, together with their related implementation plans.

Assess the progress made by the relevant entities in implementing their plans under the National Development Strategy, their related implementation plans, and other strategic and implementation plans through periodic follow-up reports prepared by each entity, including implementation status, challenges encountered, proposed solutions, and any decisions required in relation thereto.

Monitor future trends across different sectors, analyse their short-, medium- and long-term impacts on development plans, and propose appropriate measures to strengthen the State’s leadership in relevant fields.

Monitor global and regional developments related to Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategies, as well as emerging trends that may directly affect plan implementation, and conduct the necessary studies and research to assess their impact, in coordination with the relevant entities.

Approve draft proactive plans and risk management plans to ensure the future readiness of ministries and government entities and their alignment with, and preparedness for, future changes and developments.

Prepare research and studies related to future foresight and relevant to the Qatar National Vision and National Development Strategies, in coordination with the relevant entities.

Strengthen regional and international cooperation with entities concerned with sustainable development and future foresight.

Support ministries and government entities in addressing and absorbing future developments, and ensure their preparedness and readiness to keep pace with such developments.

Propose the Council's strategic plans and general policy and oversee their implementation after being approved by the Council.

Propose the Council’s plans, programs and projects, and monitor their implementation following their approval by the Council.

Propose the Council’s organizational structure.

Prepare the Council's draft estimated budget and final account and submit them to the Council for approval.

Communicate and clarify Qatar National Vision 2030 and national development strategies to government agencies, the private sector and civil society organizations.

Prepare studies and provide recommendations on matters submitted to the Council, as well as on other topics assigned by the Council or the President, in coordination with the relevant entities.

Prepare the agendas for Council meetings, in coordination with the relevant entities, and submit them to the President for approval sufficiently in advance of each meeting.

Follow up on the implementation of the Council’s and the President’s decisions, in coordination with the relevant entities.

Oversee the effective functioning of the Council and the General Secretariat.

Propose legislation related to the Council's work.

Undertake any other duties or tasks assigned by the President.

National Statistics Center

The Center's Strategic Objectives

Developing a comprehensive and unified national statistical system.
Providing reliable official statistics for the country.
Supporting the decision-making process with accurate and reliable data.
Enhancing data quality according to international standards.

NSC Roles and Responsibilities

Planning and Strategy

Drafting the national strategy for data, statistics, policies and plans necessary to meet the statistical needs of the State.

Data Collection and Field Operations

Collecting, tabulating, storing, and archiving statistical information, and publishing the outcomes of statistical operations.

Supervision and Standards

Developing and issuing guidelines for the collection and classification of statistical data based on their definitions and applications and standardizing statistical criteria and concepts in line with international standards.

Publication and Awareness

Issuing statistical bulletins on a regular basis, or whenever necessary.

Systems and Databases

Designing an automated system for building statistical databases; specifically, developing an integrated central database that efficiently fulfills national statistical requirements with a high degree of reliability.

Legislative Tools

Law No. (2) of 2011 on Official Statistics

Emiri Decision No. (44) of 2008 adopting the Comprehensive Vision for Development “Qatar National Vision 2030”.

Emiri Decision No. (13) of 2024 establishing the National Planning Council.

Cabinet Decision No. (5) of 2023 amending certain provisions of Cabinet Decision No. (2) of 2019 forming the Statistics Advisory Committee.

Cabinet Decision No. (1) of 2022 amending certain provisions of Decision No. (11) of 2009 reorganizing the Permanent Population Committee.