As Doha's expat population is increasing, the city is offering more accommodation options to suit everyone's taste. Whether you're looking for a house, apartment or high-end villa, depending on your budget and lifestyle, finding a nice place to live in shouldn't be a hard task.
If you live and work in Doha, you can either find accommodation on your own or benefit from facilities provided by your employer. In general, you can choose between a yearly or monthly lease contract.
Types of accommodation in Doha
Apartments
The downtown area is filled with a wide variety of apartment buildings, from the cheapest to the most expensive one. Real estate agencies offer a wide range of housing options to suit every taste. Usually, a typical apartment building is composed of basic amenities such as indoor pool, mini-gym, and a warm reception. High-end apartments are more convenient for expatriates. Some of these are located along the coast, allowing you to enjoy a delightful city view at night. Most of them include mini-pub, coffee shops, gym, pool, convention venues, free internet and even a tennis court.
Serviced apartments
Housing trends in Doha have evolved over the years to cater to clients seeking more flexible services. Several hotel chains are now offering packages that are made for tenants who do not wish to stay more than a year in the country. This type of accommodation gives extra comfort, especially for single individuals who usually rush in their daily activities and thus have a nomadic lifestyle. Rooms include basic housing appliances like washing machine, electric stove, TV and microwave oven. The rent always comes in a total package, including electricity, daily housekeeping services and internet connection.
Villas
Villas are the most common type of accommodation in Doha. Some of these are rented by companies that have a considerable number of employees, while others are rented by groups of individuals sharing the rent. Other stand-alone villas can be found across the city and are commonly rented or owned by a family. Nowadays, new luxury villas, usually situated inside a compound, are cropping up. Tenants can walk around freely and share the amenities like a pool, gym and a clubhouse.
Popular neighbourhoods in Doha
During your housing hunt in Doha, you should consider the following: the neighbourhood, proximity to your workplace and commuting time, as well as your budget. If you work at the city's outskirt, you should consider a place which is very accessible. Areas like Abu Hamour, Al Waab, Barwa and Duhail quite far from the city centre. Yet, the quality of their accommodation options is good enough to cater to your desires. You will find malls where you can buy your basic needs and nearby parks to chill after a day at work.
House hunting in Doha
It's quite easy to find accommodation in Doha. Start by having a look at social media groups like Expats Living in Qatar, Doha Classifieds, Qatar for Rent, etc. You may also check in Qatar Living website for more information. If you are looking for high-end properties, you may check through some of these real estate agencies like:
Better Homes Qatar
Mirage Property
Century 21 Qatar
Zukhrof Real Estate
UDC Qatar
Capital One Qatar
Rent prices in Doha
Rent prices in Doha depend on the type of property you have chosen. For a high-rise residential building in the West Bay or The Pearl, a studio apartment would cost between 5,000QR and 7,000QR per month. For a minimal family apartment with one-bedroom, count 9,000QR, and if you would like multiple bedrooms, the price can reach up to 12,000QR. On the other hand, mid-rise apartments usually located in crowded areas like Al Sadd and Mansoura are way cheaper. A studio will cost you 3,500 to 4,000QR, and a multiple bedroom apartment around is 6,000QR. Some property owners open their flats for sharing as well, so you get to rent a room for as cheap as 1,000QR, while facilities are shared by all tenants.
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