The demand for housing has stagnated in some places on the outskirts of Doha and even dipped in certain cases, according to sources associated with the real estate sector.
This is happening as many people are keen to shift to more conveniently located areas within Doha city, they pointed out.
“Even as brokers try hard to find tenants, a number of units have been lying vacant in places such as Sailiyah, Al Rayyan, Muaither and others – which are located far from the heart of Doha - for a few months now,” said a real estate broker.
He said many people who would earlier look for accommodation outside Doha now preferred to live in city areas such as Thumama, Mansoura, Najma, Mamoura, Hilal and Old Airport, among others.
The large availability of vacant units, convenient locations, easier access to different services such as public transport, less commuting time and stabilisation of rents in some cases are the key factors behind this trend, according to sources.
“While some of these places are already crowded, such as Mansoura, they continue to attract more people due to their convenient and central location. Besides, areas like Thumama are also fast emerging as preferred residential hubs,” said a resident.
Meanwhile, another broker said some landlords were not willing to lower rents despite getting no tenants for months. “Even though some units lie vacant for a few months, landlords are not willing to reduce rents. And even if there is a reduction, it is mostly marginal - not exceeding a few hundred riyals,” he noted.
While there is a demand for all types of residential units, many potential tenants – especially those planning to shift from outside Doha – look for “affordable” options in villas.
“Many people cannot afford to live in proper apartments, where rents may begin at QR5,000 even for small units, and prefer to stay in villa portions due to the lower rents. For example, a studio-type unit in such a villa may cost around QR2,500 depending on the quality and location of the place,” said a broker.
There is also a high demand for 1BHK flats while some families – especially those with kids – look for 2BHK ones within villas, the sources added.