Real Estate and Property in Qatar

Real Estate and Property in Qatar

Qatar matters are handled in cooperation with the firm's announced partner office in Qatar. The firm does not itself hold a Qatar law practice license, and local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter. Non-Qatari ownership in Qatar is governed by Law No. 16 of 2018 on the ownership and use of real estate by non-Qataris, as amended by Law No. 1 of 2025. The law leaves the map to the Council of Ministers: Cabinet Decision No. 28 of 2020 designates the areas, and the official guide to that decision describes nine freehold areas and sixteen usufruct areas.

Freehold, usufruct and where each applies

Freehold lets the non-Qatari buy the whole property and dispose of it freely; usufruct gives rights of use and exploitation for up to 99 years, renewable by agreement. Both transfer by inheritance. The decision also covers residential units within residential complexes and offices and shops in commercial complexes outside the listed areas, and lets a non-Qatari receive property by inheritance or will even outside freehold areas, on conditions it sets. Which right a buyer gets depends on the zone the property sits in.

Registration, regulator and developer rules

The General Authority for Real Estate Sector Regulation (established by Amiri Decision No. 28 of 2023) supervises the sector, and Law No. 6 of 2014 regulates real estate development. Citizens of GCC states follow a separate regime under Cabinet Decision No. 1 of 2025. Before signing we check the zone against the current decision, the title and usufruct deed, the developer's position and the buyer's category, and coordinate the file with our partner office. For the wider practice, see General Commercial & Corporate; to scope a specific transaction, contact our team.

MENA coordination

The firm was founded in Kuwait in 1986 and has a branch in Cairo. It covers MENA matters in cooperation with partner offices in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, and partner offices in Turkey and the United States. Those partner offices are not branches owned by the firm; local licensing and advice are assessed in the relevant jurisdiction.

This page is general information, not advice for a particular entity or transaction.

Frequently asked questions

Can non-Qataris own property in Qatar?

Yes, under Law No. 16 of 2018, as amended by Law No. 1 of 2025, in the areas and on the conditions set by Cabinet Decision No. 28 of 2020 - freehold in some areas and usufruct of up to 99 years in others.

What is the difference between freehold and usufruct in Qatar?

Freehold gives full ownership and free disposal. Usufruct gives the right to use and exploit the property for up to 99 years, renewable by agreement, and is recorded on the beneficiary's title deed.

Who handles Qatar property matters at the firm?

Qatar matters are handled in cooperation with the firm's announced partner office in Qatar. The firm does not itself hold a Qatar law practice license, and local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter.

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