Buying property in Qatar as a foreigner
Foreigners can own freehold in ten designated areas, updated in June 2026, and hold usufruct elsewhere, with residency linked to property value. Here is what the law allows and how to buy safely.
Freehold in designated areas, usufruct elsewhere
Non-Qataris may own real estate in Qatar under Law No. 16 of 2018 on non-Qatari ownership and usufruct of real estate. The detail sits in a Cabinet resolution: Resolution No. 28 of 2020 designated the areas, conditions, benefits and procedures, and in June 2026 it was amended by Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2026, which updated the list of areas where non-Qataris may own property and moved registration procedures to the Real Estate Registration Department of the Ministry of Justice.
Two rights are available. Freehold ownership applies in the designated ownership areas. Usufruct, a long-term right to use and benefit from property for up to 99 years, is available in other designated areas and developments. The distinction matters for resale, inheritance and financing, so a buyer should know which right a specific unit carries before paying.
The 2026 list
Under the updated list there are ten designated freehold areas. They include the established districts most foreign buyers know: West Bay (Legtaifiya, Zone 66), The Pearl Island (Zone 66), Al Khor Resort (Zone 74) and Dafna (Administrative Area, Zone 60), together with others listed in the resolution, and Lusail contains several eligible developments.
Eligibility attaches to designated areas and specific developments, not to whole cities. A villa in an area outside the list, or a building in Lusail that is not part of an eligible development, may not be available to a foreign buyer even if neighbouring towers are. Confirm the title status of the specific unit with the Ministry of Justice registration before signing.
What the thresholds give you
| Property value | Residency link |
|---|---|
| QAR 730,000 or more | May support an application for a renewable residence permit without an employer sponsor, while the property is held |
| QAR 3.65 million or more | May qualify for the benefits associated with permanent residency, such as access to certain public services, subject to conditions |
These are eligibility thresholds, not guarantees: the application is assessed against the conditions in force, the property must be properly registered, and the residence follows the ownership, so selling the property affects the permit. For investors who already hold a Qatari residence through employment or a company, property-linked residency is a second route that does not depend on the employer.
The steps that protect the buyer
Due diligence
Confirm the unit's eligibility and title, the developer's registration, outstanding service charges and, for off-plan purchases, the project's escrow and completion status.
Registration
Ownership and usufruct are registered with the Ministry of Justice's Real Estate Registration Department; the registered title, not the sale contract, is what proves ownership.
Financing
Qatari banks lend to non-Qatari buyers on eligible properties subject to their own criteria; a mortgage is registered against the title and affects resale and residency.
Disputes
Disputes with developers or sellers are civil or commercial disputes for the Qatari courts, including the Investment and Trade Court for commercial matters, unless the contract provides for arbitration.
Owning property through a company raises separate questions: whether the company is eligible to own in the area, how the ownership affects residency (which attaches to individuals), and how rental income is taxed. Rental income earned by a company with foreign owners falls within the 10% corporate income tax on the foreign-owned share; individuals pay no personal income tax on rental income in Qatar.
Developer risk and how to manage it
Much of the stock offered to foreign buyers is sold off-plan, and the risks are those of any developing market: completion delays, changes to specifications, and developer financial strain. Before paying, confirm that the project is registered, that buyer payments go into an escrow arrangement where the rules require one, that the payment schedule follows construction milestones rather than dates alone, and that the contract specifies the completion date, the compensation for delay and the buyer's right to terminate if delay exceeds a defined period.
On completion, the sale is completed by registering the title with the Ministry of Justice. Until then, the buyer holds a contractual right against the developer rather than ownership. A buyer who assumes a residence permit can be obtained on an unregistered off-plan unit is usually disappointed: residency follows registered ownership.
Two decisions to make early
Investors buying several units, or buying for rental, often consider holding property through a company. That can simplify management and transfer, but it changes the analysis: the company must itself be eligible to own in the area, rental income is taxed within the company's 10% corporate income tax on the foreign-owned share, and residency attaches to individuals, not companies, so a company owner may not obtain property-linked residency through that holding.
Succession deserves equal thought. Inheritance of property in Qatar is governed by Qatari rules, which may differ from those of the owner's home country, and the outcome for a foreign owner depends on the owner's circumstances and documents. Owners should plan succession deliberately when they buy, with advice on the will and on the ownership structure, rather than leaving family members to resolve it after the event.
Questions we get asked first
Can foreigners buy property in Qatar?
Yes, freehold in ten designated areas and usufruct for up to 99 years in other designated areas, under Law No. 16 of 2018 and Cabinet Resolution No. 28 of 2020 as amended by Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2026.
Which areas are open to foreign ownership in Qatar?
Ten designated freehold areas under the 2026 list, including West Bay (Legtaifiya), The Pearl Island, Al Khor Resort and Dafna, plus eligible developments in Lusail. Eligibility should be confirmed for the specific unit.
Does buying property in Qatar give residency?
Property worth QAR 730,000 or more may support a renewable residence permit without an employer sponsor, and property of QAR 3.65 million or more may qualify for permanent residency benefits, subject to conditions.
Who registers property ownership in Qatar?
The Real Estate Registration Department of the Ministry of Justice, which under the 2026 amendment handles all registration procedures for non-Qatari ownership and usufruct.
Is rental income taxed in Qatar?
Individuals pay no personal income tax on rental income. A company with foreign owners pays the 10% corporate income tax on the foreign-owned share of its profit, including rental income.
Eligible unit, registered title, then residency
Qatar's property market is open to foreigners in clearly defined places, updated in June 2026. Confirm that the specific unit is eligible, register the title with the Ministry of Justice, understand whether you hold freehold or usufruct, and treat residency as following the property rather than the other way round.
Buying property or holding it through a company?
We check eligibility, structure the ownership and handle the residency application linked to it.
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This article is general information, current as of 2026, and is not advice for any specific situation. Confirm current rules with the MOIC, the NBR or the relevant authority before acting.