Qatar to Penalize Vehicle Noise Pollution with QR 1M Fine

Qatar penalises vehicle dealerships and service providers for violating noise pollution regulations with QR 1,000,000 or imprisonment for two years.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a circular that directs all drivers and riders of cars and motorcycles in Qatar to abide by the noise level specifications from the Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology.

The new regulation has been introduced to crack down on the noise pollution that had been complained about from various neighborhoods including Lusail Marina.

The noise pollution was first complained by residents of Lusail in 2021, however, a crackdown on the noise pollution and an increase in police patrols reduced the cases of noise pollution.

The new regulation instructs to take noise level measurements when the engine is operational and the vehicle is in motion.

Service providers and car dealers have been directed to not sell spare parts of vehicles that contribute to sound amplification and increase noise pollution.

Dealers are also required to modify vehicles that they have equipped with these noise-amplifying parts.

Dealers and maintenance centers have been given a notice period of 30 to 60 days to ensure that their vehicles comply with these standards.

The ministry is also planning to launch a campaign titled "Noise Pollution from Cars and Motorcycles" in August to ensure that all car dealers and maintenance centres conform to these standards and help reduce noise pollution in Qatar.