Ashghal Approval and Drainage Connection Approval in Qatar
Ashghal is Qatar's Public Works Authority, which owns the public roads, foul sewers and surface water drains. Most building projects need its approval to connect drainage or to work in the road. We prepare the drawings, submit them and answer Ashghal's comments.
Who needs this
- Villa owners building on a new plot
- Developers of residential and commercial buildings
- Owners adding floors, annexes or units to an existing building
- Restaurant operators who need a grease trap clearance
What we deliver
- Plot drainage layout for foul sewer and surface water
- Manhole schedule with pipe sizes, levels and gradients
- Discharge calculations for the building
- Plot entrance and road access layout, where needed
- Written replies to Ashghal comments, with revised drawings
- House connection request documents for the owner to sign
Who reviews the drawings
We prepare each submission, answer the comments and follow up until it is cleared.
Ashghal (Public Works Authority)
Reviews the plot drainage design, approves connection to the public sewer and surface water networks, and issues road opening permits.
Ministry of Municipality
Issues the building permit and runs the building permits system, through which the Ashghal review is normally requested.
Kahramaa
Supplies electricity and water, and normally asks for proof of the drainage connection before permanent supply.
How it works
The steps below are the usual sequence. We confirm the exact route for your plot and building type at the start.
- 01
Check the networks
We confirm whether public foul sewer and surface water networks serve your plot, and where the connection point is likely to be.
- 02
Design the plot drainage
We design pipes, manholes and levels inside the plot, and check them against foundations, tanks and cable routes.
- 03
Submit to Ashghal
We submit the drainage drawings for Ashghal review, normally through the Ministry of Municipality building permits system.
- 04
Close the comments
We answer each Ashghal comment in writing and resubmit revised drawings until the review is closed.
- 05
Connection and road works
After approval, the owner requests the house connection. Any excavation in a public road needs a road opening permit from Ashghal first.
What we need from you
- Title deed, plot plan and a recent ownership statement
- Owner's Qatar ID, or commercial registration for a company
- Service site plan for the plot, if one has been issued
- Architectural drawings, or the brief if design has not started
- Existing building permit and drawings, for additions
- Soil report showing groundwater level, if a basement is planned
Common causes of delay, and how we avoid them
Rainwater sent to the foul sewer
Ashghal does not allow rainwater pipes to discharge into the foul sewer. We design two separate systems from the first layout.
Final manhole in the wrong place
The last manhole inside the plot must sit close to the boundary wall, where Ashghal can reach it. We fix its position before the boundary wall is designed.
Levels that do not drain
A basement or low ground floor can sit below the public sewer level. We check levels early and design pumping where gravity drainage is not possible.
What Ashghal approval covers
Ashghal builds and maintains Qatar's public roads, foul sewers and surface water drains. A building project meets Ashghal in three places. The first is the foul sewer connection, which carries wastewater to the public network. The second is surface water, meaning rainwater from roofs and paved areas. The third is the road, including the plot entrance and any excavation to reach a public pipe. People often call these clearances an Ashghal NOC, or no objection certificate.
How Ashghal approval connects to the building permit
The Ministry of Municipality issues the building permit, but service authorities such as Ashghal review the drawings first. The drainage review and the sewer connection request are normally handled inside the same building permits system. An open Ashghal comment can therefore hold the whole permit. At the end of construction, Ashghal confirms that the building is connected to the network. That confirmation normally supports the building completion certificate and the permanent Kahramaa connection.
Road access approval and road opening
Ashghal controls the right of way of public roads in Qatar. A contractor who needs to excavate or occupy a road, for example to lay a drainage connection, must first hold a road opening permit. Larger projects that change how vehicles enter and leave a plot may also need their access layout reviewed. The requirement depends on the road, the plot use and the project size.
Ashghal Approval: common questions
Do I need Ashghal approval for a private villa?
In most cases, yes. A new villa normally needs an approved drainage layout and a connection to the public sewer where one exists.
What happens if there is no public sewer near my plot?
Some areas of Qatar are not yet served by a public sewer. The design then normally uses a septic or holding tank that is emptied by tanker. We confirm the position for your plot first.
Who builds the connection from my plot to the public sewer?
Your contractor builds the drainage inside the plot. The link between the boundary and the public network follows Ashghal's house connection procedure and is supervised by Ashghal.
Does a restaurant need a separate Ashghal approval?
Usually, yes. Ashghal runs a grease trap permit service for businesses that discharge kitchen waste, such as restaurants. We size and draw the grease trap with the fit-out drawings.
Often needed together
- AUTH
Building Permit
We prepare the drawings and submit your building permit application to the Ministry of Municipality, with the other authority clearances it needs.
- AUTH
Kahramaa Approval
Load calculations and electricity and water drawings prepared and submitted for Kahramaa approval as part of your building permit in Qatar.
- MEP
MEP Engineering
HVAC, electrical, plumbing, drainage and fire fighting design in Qatar, coordinated with architecture and structure before authority review.
Tell us about your project.
An engineer will get back to you. The first consultation is free.