File picture used for representation.
A decrease by 8.3 percent has been witnessed in issuance of driving licences to expatriates in April 2017 compared to March 2017 (MoM basis) while there is a decline of 8.2 percent compared to the same month of the last year (YoY).
The 40th edition of Qatar’s Monthly Statistics released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics for April 2017 indicates that as many as 7,776 driving licences were issued to expatriates in April 2017 while the driving licenses issued in March 2017 and April 2016 were 8477 and 8473 respectively. The report also indicates a 15.6 percent decline in clearance of new vehicles compared on MoM basis with March 2017 and a 12.7 percent decrease compared with same month of 2016 compared on YoY basis. As many as 6,599 new vehicles were cleared in April 2017 while 7,823 new vehicles had been cleared in March 2017 and the number of new vehicles cleared in April 2016 was 7563.
According to the latest Monthly Statistics, there is also a 15.6 decrease in registration of new vehicles (all categories) in April 2017 as compared to March 2017 (MoM) and a 12.7 percent decline in registration of new vehicles have been witnessed when April 2017 is compared with April 2016 (YoY).
Regarding traffic violations of various nature, the report indicates a 4.6 percent decrease when compared on MoM basis (April 2017 to March 2017) but there is an increase of 4.5 percent on YoY basis (April 2017 to April 2016).
As many as 155, 963 traffic violations were noted in April 2017, in March 2017, the number stood at 163,538 and 149,176 violations were noted in April 2016.
Traffic accident cases have witnessed a 2.4 percent increase in April 2017 when it is compared with March 2017 on MoM basis. Total traffic accident cases including minor, major and deaths in April 2017 were recorded 509 as compared to 497 in March 2017.
The Monthly Stats Bulletin of the Ministry further reveals that there are three more deaths in traffic accidents in April (total 15) when compared to March 2017 (total 12).
It also shows that Qatar’s population has reached 2.68 million at the end of April 2017, attaining an annual increase of 4.5 percent compared with population at the end of April 2016 which accounted for 2.56 million.
Regarding building permits, the total number of building permits issued in April 2017 is 618 thus recording a 7.3 percent decrease (MoM) in comparison to March 2017 when 667 building permits had been issued. Municipalities which have shown an increase in the number of building permits are Al-Wakra, Umm Slal, Al-Khor and Al-Thakhira and Al-Sheehaniya.
The Bulletin also shows that 331 building were sold in different municipalities in April 2017 thus recording a 13.4 decrease when comparison is made on MoM basis with March 2017 in which 382 properties had been sold. In regard to electricity and water consumption rate, the bulletin showed a monthly increase of 25.7% in electricity utilization, as the total electricity utilization value has reached 3,191 GWh during April 2017.
On aircrafts movement at Hamad International Airport, the ministry’s Bulletin has showed a decrease in the total number of arriving and departing aircraft.
The total number of aircrafts reached about 21,157 aircraft during April 2017, which recorded a monthly decrease of 3.1% in comparison with March 2017 with total number of 21,841 aircrafts.
The report shows an increase of 47.2 percent in visitors from GCC countries in April 2017 (total 144, 814 visitors) when compared on YoY basis with April 2016 (98, 401 visitors).
The Bulletin also indicates that the total number of visitors reached 295,134 visitors during April 2017, which attained a monthly increase of 27.4% compared to last April 2016 where the total number of visitors was 231,629 visitors.
