QATAR’S construction sector has remained firm even during these difficult times, when the coronavirus pandemic has slowed the pace of global and local economy.
As per the data released recently by the Planning and Statistics Authority, 346 building permits were issued in May this year. According to the figures, Al Rayyan municipality came at the top in terms of issuance of building permits as it issued 109 permits, accounting for 31 percent of the total issued permits.
Doha municipality came in second place with 72 permits, followed by Al Wakrah with 65 permits, then Al Da’ayen with 54 permits. The rest of the municipalities were as follows: Umm Salal 18 permits, Al Khor 15 permits, Al Sheehaniya 12 permits, and finally Al Shammal 3 permits. The data about building permits issued monthly by the Planning and Statistics Authority is a crucial indicator of the performance of the construction sector.
The data includes number of permits issued for residential buildings including villas and apartment buildings; and non residential buildings commercial buildings, mosques, workshops and factories.
Number of permits doesn’t mean number of units or buildings. It means number of permits issued for this category.
For example, a single permit might be issued for more than one villa or for a complete residential complex. The total number of building permits issued by the municipalities in Qatar reached 500 in April, compared to 483 permits in April last year.
The data related to building permits issued during 2020 demonstrate that the construction sector has shrugged-off the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and it is set to move ahead in full speed in the current year.
Figures from the Planning and Statistics Authority have showed that the construction sector has made a strong comeback in the last part of the year. Total 972 building permits were issued in the December, which was the highest figure in 2020. The growth in construction sector is supported by Qatar’s buoyant real estate sector. As per the Ministry of Justice report, real estate sector witnessed deals worth QR2.57bn in March compared to QR1.77bn in February this year, recording a surge of around 45 percent.
The volume of real estate transactions in sales contracts registered with the Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice in May reached QR2.69bn. The data of the analytical real estate bulletin issued by the Ministry of Justice showed that 321 real estate deals were registered during the same month.
The index of the value of the deals rose 34 percent, while the index for total area traded increased 10 percent.