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Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s construction and urban development sector recorded stronger activity during the second quarter of 2026, with the Ministry of Municipality reporting a significant rise in building permits, licences, certificates and approved plans compared with the first quarter.
According to new data released by the Ministry of Municipality yesterday on its X account, a total of 2,240 building permits were issued during the second quarter, compared with 1,777 in the first quarter, representing an increase of 463 permits, or 26.1 per cent. Small projects accounted for the largest share, with 1,703 permits, up from 1,332 in the previous quarter. Major projects also increased, with 91 permits issued compared with 78 in Q1, while permits for other projects rose to 446 from 367.
The increase in permits points to broader construction activity across Qatar, with growth recorded in all three categories. The continued dominance of small projects indicates sustained demand for smaller-scale construction and development, while the rise in major-project permits reflects continued activity in larger developments.
The Ministry also recorded a substantial increase in licences and certificates issued during the quarter. A total of 2,152 transactions were reported in Q2, compared with 1,620 in Q1, an increase of around 32.8 per cent.
Building completion certificates represented the largest category, with 1,079 certificates issued during the quarter, compared with 808 in Q1. The figure represents an increase of 271 certificates, or approximately 33.5 per cent, indicating a higher volume of projects reaching completion and moving through the certification process.
The Ministry issued 397 maintenance permits during the second quarter, compared with 272 in the first quarter, while demolition permits increased slightly to 216 from 205. Property information certificates also rose, reaching 460 compared with 335 in the previous quarter.
The volume of approved plans recorded an even sharper increase. The Ministry reported 119,875 approved plans across the categories listed for Q2, compared with 65,338 during Q1. This represents an increase of more than 54,500 approvals, or about 83.5 per cent.
Plans related to building permits accounted for the largest portion, with 76,883 approvals during the second quarter. Building completion-related plans totalled 32,717, while 3,748 maintenance plans were approved. The Ministry also approved 1,581 demolition-related plans and 226 plans linked to property information certificates.
The latest figures point to a marked expansion in the volume of applications and technical approvals being processed through the municipal system during the quarter. The rise in building completion certificates, alongside the increase in building permits and approved plans, suggests continued movement through different stages of the construction cycle, from planning and authorisation to completion.
The Q2 results also show that activity is not limited to new construction. The increase in maintenance permits and property information certificates indicates continued demand for services related to existing buildings and properties, while demolition activity remains part of the broader process of redevelopment and urban renewal.
The Ministry of Municipality has continued to focus on improving municipal services, strengthening regulatory procedures and expanding digital services aimed at making applications and approvals more efficient. The growing volume of transactions and approved plans highlights the importance of efficient technical and regulatory processes as Qatar’s urban areas continue to develop.
Overall, the second-quarter figures reinforce the positive momentum seen in Qatar’s construction and municipal sectors during the first half of 2026. With building permits rising by more than a quarter from Q1 and approved plans increasing by more than four-fifths, the latest data indicate a significant expansion in construction-related activity and technical processing during the quarter. The figures also bring the total number of building permits issued during the first half of 2026 to 4,017.
