Qatar’s building and construction sector continues to remain robust allaying concerns with regard to gaps in supply and demand equilibrium. The number of new building permits issued in September surged to 758, witnessed a remarkable jump of nearly 83 percent (month-on-month) compared to 415 permits issued in the previous month, latest official data show.
September saw one of the highest numbers of building permits issued in a month, at least for over the last couple of years, and the second highest number for the year 2019 only after January 2019 with the highest 790 building certificates issued for the year, according to data released by the Planning and Statistics Authority.
When analysed on year-on-year basis, the September number inched up more than three percent compared to 735 new building permits issued in the corresponding month last year (September 2018).
Data related to building permits and building completion certificates are of particular importance as it is considered an indicator for the performance of the construction sector which in turn occupies a significant position in the national economy.
The official statistics also gave a brief overview of the nature of these monthly building permits and completion certificates in terms of their geographical distribution (according to the municipalities) and types of these permits and certificates as well as details about categories of the different types of buildings, whether they are residential or non-residential.
According to their geographical distribution, Al Rayyan municipality came at the top of the municipalities where the number of building permits issued were 229 permits, 30 percent of the total issued permits, while Doha and Al Wakrah municipalities came in second place with 154 permits each (together accounting for over 40 percent of the total), followed by Al Da’ayen municipality with 103 permits, 14 percent, then Umm Slal municipality with 47 permits, 6 percent. The rest of the municipalities were: Al Khor 31 permits (4 percent), Al Sheehaniya 22 permits (3 percent), and finally Al Shammal 18 permits (2 percent).
In terms of type of permits issued, data indicates that the new building permits (residential and non-residential) constitutes 50 percent (379 permits) of the total building permits issued during the month of September 2019, while the percentage of additions permits constituted 45 percent (341 permits), and finally fencing permits with 5 percent (38 permits).
By analysing new residential buildings permits data, we find that villas’ top the list, accounting for 74 percent (228 permits) of all new residential buildings permits, followed by dwellings of housing loans permits by 18 percent (55 permits) and apartments buildings by 7 percent (21 permits).
On the other hand, commercial buildings were found to be in the forefront of non-residential buildings permits with 54 percent (38 permits), followed by governmental buildings with 27 percent (19 permits), then industrial buildings e.g. workshops and factories with 11 percent (8 permits).
With regard to ‘Building Completion Certificates’ issued during the month of September 2019 some 348 certificates were issued, recording a general increase of 35 percent (month-on-month).
According to their geographical distribution, Rayyan municipality stood at the top of the municipalities where the number of building completion certificates issued were 84 certificates, (24 percent) of the total issued certificates, while municipality of Al Doha came in second place with 76 certificates, (22 percent), followed by municipality of Al Wakrah with 65 certificates (19 percent), then Al Da’ayen municipality with 57 certificates, (16 percent).
The rest of the municipalities were as follows: Umm Slal 29 certificates (8 percent), Al Khor 19 certificates (5 percent), and finally Al Shammal and Al Sheehaniya 9 certificates (3 percent) each.
In terms of type of certificates issued, data indicates that the new building completion certificates (residential and non-residential) constitutes 74 percent (257 certificates) of the total building certificates issued during the month of September 2019, while the percentage of additions certificates constituted 26 percent (91 certificates).
