Total residential sales value reaches QR6.2bn in Q1 2026

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s residential property market showed resilience in the first quarter of 2026, with transaction volumes increasing by 15% year-on-year, even as regional geopolitical tensions impacted investor confidence and buyer activity.

According to the latest Qatar Real Estate Market Review by global property consultancy Knight Frank, a total of 1,582 residential transactions were recorded during Q1 2026. However, this represented a 23% decline compared to the 2,047 transactions recorded in Q4 2025, reflecting a more cautious investment environment.

Residential Sales Value Declines

The total value of residential sales reached approximately QR6.2 billion during Q1 2026, down from QR7.2 billion in the previous quarter.

Key Highlights:

• Residential transaction volumes rose 15% year-on-year.

• Total sales value declined 15% quarter-on-quarter.

• Market sentiment was affected by regional conflict and economic uncertainty.

• Buyer activity moderated across several residential segments.

Doha and Al Rayyan Lead Market Activity

Doha remained the most active residential market, recording 512 transactions worth approximately QR2.6 billion. Meanwhile, Al Rayyan ranked second with 280 transactions valued at QR1.38 billion.

Property Prices Continue to Ease

Residential property prices witnessed a slight decline during the quarter.

Average Prices:

• Villa prices fell 3.5% year-on-year to QR6,626 per sq m.

• Apartment prices declined 1.7% year-on-year to QR13,049 per sq m.

• Prime waterfront locations remained resilient, with The Waterfront recording average apartment prices of QR15,194 per sq m.

Mortgage Market Shows Mixed Trends

Qatar’s mortgage market delivered mixed results during Q1 2026. While the number of mortgage transactions declined, the total value of financing increased significantly.

Mortgage Market Snapshot:

Mortgage transactions dropped 12.4% year-on-year to 283.
Total mortgage value surged 85% year-on-year to approximately QR17.2 billion.
Growth indicates continued financing activity for larger and high-value residential assets.

Rental Market Softens Amid Cautious Demand

The residential leasing sector also experienced softer conditions as tenants adopted a more cautious approach.

Rental Trends:

• Average villa rents fell 8.9% year-on-year to QR13,908 per month.

• Apartment rents declined 13.3% quarter-on-quarter to QR9,492 per month.

• Market uncertainty influenced occupier demand and leasing decisions.

Office Market Remains Relatively Stable

Despite challenges in the residential sector, Qatar’s office market remained relatively stable. Average office rents declined modestly by 3.2% year-on-year to QR77 per sq m per month.

Demand continued to focus on premium business districts such as West Bay and Lusail, while secondary office locations faced greater rental pressure due to higher vacancy rates and increased competition from newer Grade A developments.

While Qatar's real estate sector faced headwinds during the first quarter of 2026, the year-on-year increase in residential transactions highlights the market's underlying resilience. Industry experts expect investor sentiment and buyer activity to improve as economic conditions stabilize and confidence returns to the market.