DOHA: New residential building permits issued by the civic authorities last month point to a trend whereby more villas are being built than apartment buildings. Official figures released yesterday show that out of 343 new building permits issued in February in different municipal jurisdictions, 198 were for villas.
That constituted a considerable 67 percent of all the new residential building permits issued by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment last month. Some 19 percent (or 57) of the new building permits were for houses of nationals for which the state gives away long-term loans.
Only 10 percent (or 29) of the permits issued were for apartment buildings, data released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics show.
The maximum number of permits for villas were issued in Al Rayyan (55), followed by Al Daayen (47). Doha ranked third with 28 permits, followed by Al Wakrah and Umm Salal (26 permits for villas each).
In Al Khor 15 permits for villas were issued in the month while in Al Shamal, only one. Of the 29 permits issued for apartment buildings, a massive majority (22) were in Doha.
In Al Rayyan, no apartment building project sought permit while two projects each in Al Wakra, Al Daayen and Al Khor got the permit. In Umm Salal, one apartment building project was given the permit.
Of all the building permits issued last month, 56 percent (343) were for new projects, while 41 percent (249) were for making additions to homes. Just three percent (18 permits) were issued for fencing in residences and residential complexes.
The Ministry clarified that the number of permits issued does not mean number of units or buildings. For example, a single permit might be issued for more than one villa or for a whole residential complex, said the development planning ministry.
Al Rayyan Municipality includes Al Sheehaniya municipal jurisdiction as well, said the ministry.
As for the number of non-residential buildings is concerned, of a total of 48 permits issued in February, a little less than half (21) were for workshops and factories, while 15 were for commercial buildings.
Six permits were issued for mosques and four for public buildings, reflect the development planning ministry data.
Al Rayyan Municipality topped in terms of the number of permits issued, accounting for 32 percent (194) of the total. Doha Municipality came in second with a share of 25 percent (156), followed by Al Daayen (24 percent, or 85 permits), Al Wakra (12 percent, or 73 permits), and Umm Salal (seven percent, or 44 permits).
The Peninsula
