Rental Market in Qatar

Most expats in Qatar rent property and it is fairly easy to find rental accommodation in Doha. It is estimated that about 59% of properties in Doha are rental properties. It is most common to find property to rent through a local real estate agent or directly from landlords via classifieds websites.

Some companies, as part of their relocation package, also offer to find rental accommodation for employees, or provide rental accommodation as a benefit. Check with your employer about their accommodation policies.

To rent property in Doha you will need:

• A Qatar Residence Permit
• A Qatar ID card
• A copy of your sponsor (generally you employer's) ID card when signing the lease

It is permissible to bargain and negotiate rental prices in Qatar, but you should be careful and do so respectfully.

Average rental costs in Doha are:

• 1 bedroom flat: 3,000 QR-10,500 QR/month
• 3 bedroom flat: 6,000 QR-17,500 QR/month
• 5+ bedroom villa: 10,000 QR-30,000 QR/month

When renting in Doha, you should inquire about:

• Whether utility fees are located in your rental fee
• What the real estate agent's commission is (if applicable)
• How you can pay rent, and when (e.g. direct deposit or cash)
• Subletting/subleasing: is it permitted if you have to leave Qatar unexpectedly?
• Are pets allowed?
• Are there noise restrictions?
• Are there visitor restrictions?

[Sponsor]

Moving from or to Qatar?

AGS assists 70 000 families in their relocation each year. With over 140 branches in 94 countries, AGS can move anywhere!

Departure

Choose country Choose country AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCongoCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl salvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuinea-BissauGuinea-ConakryGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyIvory CoastJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacauMacedoniaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlandsNetherlands AntillesNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarReunionRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamVirgin IslandsWallis and FutunaYemenZambiaZimbabwe

Destination

Choose country Choose country AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCongoCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl salvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuinea-BissauGuinea-ConakryGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyIvory CoastJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacauMacedoniaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlandsNetherlands AntillesNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarReunionRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamVirgin IslandsWallis and FutunaYemenZambiaZimbabwe

Request a FREE Quote

How to Search for a Rental in Doha

Online

There are many websites to assist you in finding property to rent in Doha. These can be classifieds-type websites, or real estate agency web sites.

• Mubaweb - http://www.mubawab.com.qa
• Qatar Classifieds - http://www.qatarcl.com/
• Better Homes Qatar - http://www.bhomes.com/
• Qatar Property Planet -
  http://www.qatarpropertyplanet.com
• Mirage Property - http://www.mirageproperty.com/
• Propertyfinder.qa - http://www.propertyfinder.qa/
• Qatar Real Property - http://www.qatarrealproperty.com
• Engel & Volkers Qatar - http://www.engelvoelkers.com/qa/
• MD Properties - http://mdproperties.com.qa/residential
• Adam Qatar - http://www.adamqatar.com
• Apollo Real Estate - http://www.apollopropertiesonline.com
• DTZ Qatar - http://dtzqatar.com/
• Century 21 Qatar - http://www.century21qatar.com
• Knight Frank - http://www.knightfrank.qa/residential/
• Zukhrof Real Estate - http://www.zukhrofrealestate.com
• Maroon Homes - http://www.maroonhomes.com
• Direct Real Estate - http://www.directqatar.com

Another great online resource is the Qatar classifieds on EasyExpat. You can also chat with other expats on the Qatar forum or network and receive advice.

Newspaper Classifieds for accommodation in Qatar

You may also look for classifieds in the Gulf Times, a major English language newspaper in Qatar. Housing postings can be found in the classifieds section of the hard copy of the newspaper.

Housing Developments in Doha

You can also search for property available to rent by contacting specific developments, apartment blocks, or compounds directly, i.e. by making inquiries to the management or residents.

The Hukoomi site offers information on major real estate developments in Doha.

Rental Agents in Qatar

The real estate industry is not yet regulated in Qatar and it is unclear how the commission structure works. In some cases, commission fees are 5% of the annual rent or 50% of one month's rent, payable by the tenant. In other cases the landlord pays commission fees to the agency. Be sure to verify in writing what the agency's fees are before committing to anything.

You should get real estate agency recommendations through Qatar expat forums and inquiring with friends and co-workers before hiring an agent.

Rental Contracts in Qatar

Rental contracts in Qatar are typically for one year, and are extendable for 1-2 month periods thereafter. Qatari law prevents landlords from legally raising rental prices for properties already rented to tenants.

Rental contracts are signed between the landlord and tenant (or your employer, if your employer is renting on your behalf). Rental contracts should include:

• Rental fee and payment method/schedule
• Terms relating to deposits (amount, who they are payable to). Security deposits of one month's rent are standard.
• Duration of the contract, including start and end date
• Renewal terms
• Liabilities of the landlord (whether utility bills are covered, what maintenance and upkeep the landlord is responsible for)
• Limitations on the tenant (whether pets or smoking are permitted, noise restrictions, etc.)

Contacts should be written in Arabic and English. However, in legal disputes, the Arabic contract is the only legally binding document. After you sign a contract the landlord must register it with the Ministry for Municipality & Urban Planning. The landlord must also pay a registration fee (1% of the annual rent) within 30 days of signing the contract.

Furnished apartments should come with an inventory, which should be reviewed by the tenant and landlord before signing a contract, and at the end of the contract's term.

Giving Notice on Accommodation in Qatar

According to Qatari law, landlords must provide 6 months' notice to quit or terminate the lease agreement to tenants.

Disputes between landlords and tenants should be brought to the attention of Qatar's Rental Dispute Settlement Committee, located next to Rawdat Ak Khail Park. A Judge chairs this committee, with two members appointed by the Minister.

Recommended Partners