Doha's Property Market Upheaval in 2025: Historic Sale Figures, 9% Yields, and Mega Projects Reshaping the City's Future
Qatar's Real Estate Market Booms with Projected Growth
Qatar's real estate market is poised for significant growth over the next five to six years, according to recent projections. The overall construction market, including residential real estate, is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.13% from 2025 to 2030, growing from $68.70 billion in 2025 to an estimated $106.33 billion by 2030.
This robust growth is supported by investments in various sectors, such as residential construction, renewable energy, and infrastructure. The commercial real estate segment, in particular, is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 7.56% from 2024 to 2029, reaching around USD 24.19 billion by 2029. Despite challenges in commercial construction, a recovery is anticipated with average annual growth of around 4.7% between 2026 and 2029, driven by both public and private investments.
The residential real estate sector continues to show steady demand and rising values, with increases in average transaction sizes and sales volumes in recent years. Despite some market slowdowns post-World Cup 2022, high-demand areas like The Pearl and Al Qassar have led growth in Q1 2025, with sales prices increasing by more than 50% compared to the previous quarter.
The average asking price for a villa in Qatar is around 5,500 Qatari Rials per square meter in Q1 2025. The volume of high-end property sales reached approximately $3.2 billion in 2024, with this momentum carrying into 2025. Villas are rented at a significantly higher average price - around 11,000 QAR per month in Q1 2025.
Mortgage lending is also recovering, with the volume of mortgage transactions in Q1 2025 being 37% higher than the previous year. Luxury high-end properties often command rental yields in the double-digit range. The luxury real estate segment in Doha is gaining momentum in 2025, driven by global investor interest and Qatar's emergence as a regional wealth hub.
Waterfront apartments in Doha averaged around QR 12,625 per sq.m in 2024. Qatar has strong fundamental indicators for its industrial and logistics real estate sector. Housing prices in Doha have mostly stabilized in 2025, following a period of volatility.
Government policy is actively stimulating absorption of office space, with efforts to simplify business setup for foreign investors leading to an increase in company registrations. The 2025 market is significantly more active than in previous years, with demand driven by both local end-users and foreign investors amidst improving economic and financial conditions.
The total housing stock in Qatar reached approximately 399,500 units in 2024, an increase of ~1.4% from the previous year. In the first quarter of 2025, the number of residential real estate transactions increased by 13.2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.
The retail real estate market in Doha is stable, with high occupancy rates for premium shopping centers and regional shopping centers. The overall property price index in Qatar grew by 12.44% year-on-year in April 2025, according to globalpropertyguide.com.
By 2024, over 5,000 "golden visas" of this type were issued in Lusail and Qetaifan alone. Industrial and logistics real estate in Doha has high occupancy rates. Population growth in Qatar is around 1.5% annually, adding thousands of new housing seekers.
Qatar introduced a new office rent index this year, which stood at 97.4 points in the first quarter of 2025. Sales volumes are increasing despite stable prices, a sign of renewed confidence in the Doha real estate market. Around 2,000 new apartments were completed in the first quarter of 2025, bringing the total to ~401,500 units.
The average office rent nationwide is around 95 Qatari rials per sq.m per month in Doha. Qatar's economy is expected to grow by around 5% in 2025, with inflation at around 1%. The luxury segment also benefits from new incentives for obtaining permanent residency for real estate investors.
The Doha rental housing market remained overall stable at the start of 2025, slightly decreasing in some segments due to an oversupply following the World Cup. Massive state investments, estimated at $200-330 billion under the Qatar National Vision 2030, have been poured into infrastructure and new urban projects.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup was a peak moment that put Qatar on the global stage; afterward, there was a temporary decrease in demand from temporary visitors, but Qatar continued to host events to maintain interest. Public finances in Qatar are in good shape, with a 21% of GDP surplus in 2023.
Street retail areas have stable rental rates in Doha. The commercial real estate sector in Doha in 2025 is a tale of two trends: a steady demand for prime spaces driven by government and corporate expansion, and an increase in supply that is softening rental rates in certain areas.
The median deal price for residential property was around 2.7 million Qatari rials in Q1 2025. International tourist numbers grew by 25% in 2024, surpassing 5 million thanks to new attractions, major sporting events, and Qatar's visa policy liberalization.
The Qatar government has implemented a two-tiered residency investment program: foreigners purchasing property worth over 3,65 million Qatari Riyals are eligible for permanent residency, while those investing over 730,000 Qatari Riyals receive renewable residence visas for themselves and their families. The luxury real estate market in Doha is reaching a new level, driven by high yields, landmark projects, and supportive policies.
Rental yields in Qatar are attractive, with an average gross rental yield of around 5.3%. The average rent for a retail space in a premium shopping center is around 182.5 Qatari Rials per sq.m per month in Doha. Some areas show differences in rental market dynamics, with prestigious areas like West Bay and Pearl maintaining high occupancy and premium rental rates, while mid-segment areas face increased tenant sensitivity to cost.
Housing prices in Doha have stabilized in 2025, with only some traditionally upscale villa areas seeing slight price decreases. Property prices in Qatar have increased by 12.44% year-on-year in April 2025. The Doha real estate market in 2025 is experiencing a sustained recovery.
In the first quarter of 2025, there was a 13.2% increase in the number of residential real estate transactions compared to the previous quarter. Approximately 82% of Qatar's residents live in the municipalities of Doha and Al Rayyan. In upscale areas like Qanat Quartier, sale prices reached QR 13,977 per sq.m in 2024.
The average rent for an apartment is 6,000 QAR per month (for a typical two-bedroom) in Q1 2025. The North Field LNG Expansion project and other initiatives attract foreign specialists and workers who need housing. The average asking price for an apartment in Qatar is around 10,420 Qatari Rials per square meter in Q1 2025.
The Third National Development Strategy (2024-2030) directly targets economic diversification and attracting foreign investments, including in real estate. An additional 6,000-7,200 units are expected to be completed in 2025. Class A offices are renting for approximately 116 Qatari rials per sq.m/month in Doha.
Deal activity is increasing in the Doha real estate market in 2025. Among villas, the most expensive areas for land and villa purchases are Abu Hamour, Al Tumama, and Al Hisha. Around 60,000 sq.m of new office space was added in the first quarter of 2025 alone. The supply of office space is significant, with over 7.3 million sq.m already available in Doha.
Credit ratings in Qatar are high, with an "AA" rating from Fitch. Over 10,000 foreign-owned properties exist in Qatar, and thousands of investors have obtained residency, particularly in new areas like Lusail and Qetaifan Island. The median monthly rent for a residential unit is around 8,500 QAR (approximately $2,335 USD) in Q1 2025.
The Qatar government has launched initiatives to ensure market stability and transparency, such as the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and the Ministry of Justice creating a unified online portal for foreign property ownership. Qatar's real estate demand and supply in 2025 are characterized by increasing demand factors (population, tourism, investor interest) gradually absorbing the legacy of excess supply (Mordor Intelligence).
The 2030 Asian Games in Doha are expected to attract 2 million visitors and already stimulate housing investments - short-term rental yields may reach 8-10% during this event.
- In Qatar's booming real estate market, the commercial real estate segment is projected to expand at a CAGR of around 7.56% from 2024 to 2029, fueled by investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, and residential construction.
- The luxury real estate market in Doha is gaining momentum in 2025, driven by global investor interest, Qatar's emergence as a regional wealth hub, and new incentives for permanent residency for real estate investors.
- The Doha real estate market in 2025 is experiencing a sustained recovery, with significant growth in the overall construction market, including residential real estate, at a CAGR of approximately 9.13% from 2025 to 2030. This growth is supported by investments in various sectors and public policies aimed at stimulating absorption of office space and fostering business setup for foreign investors.
