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Qatar · Off-plan & resale

Property for sale in Qatar: apartments and villas, off-plan and resale

Apartments, villas and houses for sale in Qatar, from Lusail to The Pearl in Doha, and the rules foreign buyers need to know.

Qatar real estate draws international investors, expatriate residents of Doha and buyers seeking residency through property. Apartments and villas for sale in Qatar to non-Qataris sit mainly in designated areas such as The Pearl, Lusail and West Bay Lagoon. There are two routes in: off-plan, buying from a registered developer before completion, or resale, buying a completed home with a title deed from its owner through the non-Qatari purchase process.

The rule that matters most is that ownership depends on location. Under Law No. 16 of 2018 and Cabinet Decision No. 28 of 2020, non-Qataris can own freehold in 9 designated areas and hold 99-year usufruct in 16 more. Off-plan buying has also been formalized: developer registration with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Aqarat) opened in November 2024, central bank escrow instructions followed in February 2025, and preliminary title deeds for off-plan units arrived in January 2026.

Natalie advises international buyers comparing Qatar with Dubai and the wider Gulf. She can explain which areas offer freehold or usufruct, how the new off-plan protections apply to a given project, and which purchase levels bring residency for the buyer. For investors who already own in the UAE, she can set Qatar's lower registration costs and different lending caps against a Dubai purchase, and on request she will come back with what is available.

Ask Natalie about Qatar →

Can foreigners buy property in Qatar?

Yes, in designated areas. Non-Qatari ownership is governed by Law No. 16 of 2018 and Council of Ministers Decision No. 28 of 2020, which designates 9 freehold areas and 16 usufruct areas where rights run for up to 99 years, renewable by agreement.

The freehold areas are West Bay Lagoon (Legtaifiya), The Pearl, Al Khor Resort, Lusail, Al Kharaej, Jabal Thuaileb (Fox Hills), Al Dafna (two zones) and Onaiza. Usufruct areas include Musheireb, Al Sadd, Fereej Abdul Aziz, Al Doha Al Jadeeda, Rawdat Al Khail, Najma and the Doha International Airport area. Outside these areas, a non-Qatari may also own shops in commercial complexes and one residential unit per residential complex anywhere in Qatar.

Since October 2024 the committee that regulates non-Qatari ownership and use of real estate sits with Aqarat, having moved from the Ministry of Justice. Freehold and usufruct holders may sell, rent and mortgage, and their rights pass by inheritance.

Off-plan

Off-plan property in Qatar

Off-plan development is regulated by Law No. 6 of 2014 on the Regulation of Real Estate Development, amended by Law No. 5 of 2023, with Aqarat as regulator since its establishment by Amiri Decree No. 28 of 2023. The framework has been put into practice step by step since late 2024.

  • Aqarat opened registration of developers selling off-plan projects on 24 November 2024, so confirm the developer and project are registered.
  • Qatar Central Bank Circular 2/2025 of 5 February 2025 sets how banks open and run escrow accounts that hold off-plan buyers' payments.
  • Since January 2026 a Ministry of Justice decision has regulated the Preliminary Real Estate Register, which issues a preliminary title deed for each off-plan unit.
  • A preliminary title deed can be mortgaged, sold or gifted by its holder.
  • Developer payment plans, often including construction-linked and handover stages, vary by project and are set out in the sale contract.
  • Construction timelines can slip, so check the escrow account and the project's registration with Aqarat before each payment.

Secondary market

Resale property in Qatar

Buying resale in Qatar means a completed apartment or villa with an existing title deed. A non-Qatari files a purchase request, and ownership is recorded at the Real Estate Registration Department once the registration fee is paid, after which a title deed is issued in the buyer's name.

  • The purchase request goes through Ministry of Justice e-services with the title deed, ID or passport and, for non-residents, a good-conduct certificate.
  • Offices for non-Qatari ownership operate at The Pearl and Lusail.
  • Check whether the property is freehold or usufruct, because usufruct rights are time-limited.
  • Vacant land must be built on within four years of registration before it can be disposed of.
  • Agency commission, where an agent is used, is customarily paid by the seller.

Off-plan or resale in Qatar?

Off-planResale (secondary)
Deposit and paymentsDeveloper payment plan in stages, set per project in the contract.Paid on transfer, with ownership recorded once the fee is paid.
Buyer protectionAqarat developer registration, bank escrow and a preliminary title deed.Existing title deed and registration with the Real Estate Registration Department.
FeesRegistration on the preliminary register; confirm the fee for the unit.0.25% registration fee, customarily paid by the buyer.
Timing to keys and rentKeys and rent only after handover.Keys at transfer, with rent possible straight away.
What you can inspectPlans, contract, escrow and Aqarat registration.The finished home, title deed and ownership regime.
FinancingPreliminary title deeds can be mortgaged; foreigners on investment property under construction are capped at 50%.Expat residents up to 75% on homes up to QAR 6m; non-residents up to 60% on investment property.

Buying costs in Qatar

Registration fee
0.25% of the property value, customarily paid by the buyer.
Agency commission
Where an agent is used, typically 1-2% of the price, negotiable and customarily paid by the seller.
Annual property tax
There is no annual property ownership tax in Qatar.
Lease registration
Under Law No. 8 of 2026, registering a lease costs QAR 250 per unit.

The registration fee for preliminary title deeds on off-plan units was not published in the sources checked; confirm it with the developer.

Residency through property in Qatar

According to Aqarat, owning property worth at least QAR 730,000 (about USD 200,000) entitles a non-Qatari to residence linked to the property. Owning property worth at least QAR 3,650,000 (about USD 1 million), in one property or several, gives residence with the benefits of the permanent residency card, covering health, education and investment in some economic activities.

Buyers of property below QAR 730,000 may still purchase, but without the property-linked residence.

Where buyers look in Qatar

New developments and off-plan

  • LusailFreehold zone north of Doha, including Marina District, Fox Hills and Qetaifan Islands, with the main concentration of new projects.
  • The Pearl (incl. Gewan Island)Freehold island development with newer phases still being delivered.
  • Al Kharaej and Jabal ThuailebFreehold zones within the Lusail area.
  • Al Khor ResortFreehold resort zone north of Doha.

Established resale markets

  • The PearlLargest established freehold community with a deep resale and rental market.
  • West Bay Lagoon (Legtaifiya)Established freehold villa area.
  • Lusail Marina DistrictCompleted freehold towers with growing resale activity.
  • Al Dafna and West BayFreehold towers in the central business district.
  • MusheirebDowntown regeneration district available on 99-year usufruct.
  • Al SaddCentral usufruct area with completed residential stock.

The market in numbers

  • Property sales in Qatar totalled about QAR 34.4 billion in 2025, up about 29% from QAR 26.6 billion in 2024, with land and villas the largest segments (Aqarat and Ministry of Justice data, reported March 2026).
  • In May 2025 Commercial Bank became the first bank in Qatar to offer real estate escrow accounts, in collaboration with Aqarat.

What to watch for

  • The off-plan framework is new in practice, so confirm the developer and project are registered with Aqarat and that payments go into the project escrow account.
  • Foreign ownership is limited to designated freehold and usufruct areas plus limited unit types elsewhere, and usufruct is time-limited, so check which regime applies.
  • Bank finance for non-residents is capped at 60% on investment property, and at 50% for foreigners on investment property under construction.
  • Construction timelines can slip; check the escrow account and the project's status before paying.

Buying property in Qatar: questions buyers ask

Can foreigners buy property in Qatar?

Yes. Non-Qataris can own freehold in 9 designated areas, including The Pearl, Lusail, West Bay Lagoon and Al Khor Resort, and hold 99-year usufruct in 16 more, including Musheireb and Al Sadd, under Cabinet Decision No. 28 of 2020.

Should I buy off-plan or resale property in Qatar?

Off-plan now comes with Aqarat registration, bank escrow and a preliminary title deed that can be mortgaged or sold, but no keys until handover. Resale gives you a finished home and an existing title deed, with only the 0.25% registration fee at transfer.

How much property do I need to buy for residency in Qatar?

At least QAR 730,000 for property-linked residence, and at least QAR 3.65 million for residence with permanent-residency benefits covering health, education and some investment activities.

What are the costs of buying property in Qatar?

The sale registration fee is 0.25% of the property value, customarily paid by the buyer. Agency commission, if any, is typically 1-2% and customarily paid by the seller, and there is no annual property tax.

Are off-plan purchases protected in Qatar?

Developers must register with Aqarat and take buyer payments into a project escrow account under Law No. 6 of 2014 and QCB Circular 2/2025. Since January 2026 off-plan units receive a preliminary title deed.

Can a foreigner get a mortgage in Qatar?

Under Qatar Central Bank rules announced in July 2023, expatriate residents can borrow up to 75% on residential property up to QAR 6 million and 70% above. Non-residents are capped at 60% on investment property, with shorter tenors.

Sources

  1. Non-Qatari ownership instruction manual (Decision 28/2020)
  2. Qatar Tribune: ownership committee moves to Aqarat
  3. Qatar Central Bank: Circular 2/2025 escrow accounts
  4. Gulf Times: developer registration begins
  5. QNA: off-plan preliminary register decision
  6. Expat Focus: selling property in Qatar
  7. Arady: property fees in Qatar
  8. The Peninsula: QCB mortgage regulations
  9. Doha News: QCB mortgage rules explained
  10. Aqarat: own real estate
  11. The Peninsula: 2025 property sales
  12. The Peninsula: first real estate escrow account

This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees were checked against the sources above in October 2026 and can change.

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