Director of Public Relations and Communication Department of MECC Mohammed Ahmed Al Dahi (second left) with other officials during the press conference.
DOHA: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) has announced the opening of registration for the annual winter camping season for 2024-25, from October 15 to November 5, 2024 through its website and ‘Bee’ah’ app.
Six and a half months long winter season will begin on October 15, 2024 and conclude on April 30, 2025. Fees for winter camping have been reduced from QR10,000 to QR3,000 for all sites with exemption of people with disabilities and retirees from those fees.
Addressing a press conference at the headquarters of MECC yesterday, Director of Public Relations and Communication Department of MECC Mohammed Ahmed Al Dahi said that first time campers are allowed to set up their camps in the designated camping sites immediately after completing the booking process and obtaining location (coordinate) and number of the camp.
He noted that MECC inspectors will contact the camp owners within 72 hours to fix the coordinates of the winter camp.
“The security deposit of QR10,00 is required for everyone which will be returned at the end of the camping season, immediately after removing the camp and returning the site to its original condition,” said Al Dahi.
MECC’s Director of the Wildlife Protection Department Hamad Salem Al Nuaimi said that the registration process will be in three separate stages – central region from October 15 to 17; southern region on October 18, 19 and 20; and northern regions from October 21 to 24.
He said that October 25 to November 5, 2024 has been dedicated to book the remaining places in all three areas. Al Nuaimi noted that three days - October 8, 9 and 10 - have been allocated for the people with mental disabilities through their authorized representatives.
He said that public beaches have been designated for families in addition to municipal beaches, and accordingly the condition of staying at least 100 meters away from the beach has been cancelled.
Regarding the new decisions this year, Al Nuaimi explained that those below 25 years old are allowed to obtain a camping permit, and that the fee for amending the permit from one area to another is QR1,000.
He noted that the headquarters of the Wildlife Protection Department - Green Qatar, opposite Tawar Mall, has been designated as a centre to provide assistance to the elderly and people with disabilities in the event that they are unable to register electronically.
Head of the Preventive Education Section at the Prevention Department of the General Directorate of Civil Defense, Captain Abdul Hadi Ali Al Marri presented urged campers to seek the help of specialists to connect electrical extensions, to avoid electrical short circuit accidents that may result from poor installation.
He also recommended leaving a distance of 5 to 6 metres between tents while ensuring that they are provided with the necessary safety and security means.
First Lieutenant Abdul Mohsen Al Asmar Al Ruwaili, Traffic Media Officer, stressed that General Directorate of Traffic is keen to annually prepare an integrated action plan to reduce accidents and limit deaths and injuries resulting from them in all areas.
