Global Real Estate News

Qatar’s total real estate sales reached QR 1.5 billion during the 44th week of 2026, from October 25 to 31, according to the latest figures from the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, Aqarat. The value was up 70.3% from the previous week and 48.8% from the same period last year. The number of sales contracts, however, fell to 101, down 24.1% week on week and 22.3% year on year.

Apartment buildings led sales by value, accounting for QR 535.2 million, or 35.3% of the total. Sales of other properties stood at QR 525.1 million (34.6%), followed by villas at QR 330.1 million (21.7%) and residential complexes at QR 127.6 million (8.4%). Doha Municipality recorded the highest sales value at QR 1.136 billion, accounting for 78.8% of the total, according to the figures. Al Daayen recorded QR 235 million (16.3%), while Al Rayyan reported QR 70 million (4.9%).
The mortgage market recorded 11 contracts worth a combined QR 234.2 million.

Mortgage value fell 85.3% week on week and 29.8% year on year. The number of contracts declined 68.6% from the previous week and 50% from a year earlier. Vacant land accounted for QR 206 million, or 88% of total mortgage value. Mortgages on villas amounted to QR 18 million (7.7%), while those on apartment buildings stood at QR 10 million (4.3%). Al Rayyan Municipality led mortgage activity with QR 187 million, representing 84.6% of the total. Doha recorded QR 22 million (10%) and Al Wakrah QR 12 million (5.4%).
Aqarat registered 489 lease contracts during the week, with a combined value of QR 3.79 million. Rental value fell 46.3% week on week and 92% year on year, while the number of contracts declined 45.6% and 88.6%, respectively.
Villas accounted for the largest share of rental value at QR 1.61 million (42.5%), followed by apartments at QR 1.59 million (42%).

Commercial showrooms contributed QR 480,000 (12.7%), while other properties accounted for QR 110,000 (2.9%). Doha recorded QR 1.67 million in rental value, followed by Al Rayyan with QR 1.18 million and Al Wakrah with QR 530,000. The authorities put their respective shares at 49.4%, 34.9% and 15.7%.

Emaar Properties plans to make a voluntary cash offer to acquire the shares in Emaar Development that it does not already own. The potential deal could be worth up to $3.43 billion, according to a company filing reported by Reuters.
Emaar Properties, developer of the Burj Khalifa, owns just over 79% of Emaar Development. It plans to offer 15 dirhams per share for the remaining stake. The proposed price values Emaar Development at about 60 billion dirhams, or $16.34 billion, based on LSEG data.

The offer price is above Emaar Development’s closing share price of 13.9 dirhams on Tuesday. The shares rose 5.3% to 14.64 dirhams by 0630 GMT on Wednesday, nearing the proposed offer price. The stock had fallen more than 8% so far this year. Emaar has not said whether it intends to delist Emaar Development from the Dubai Financial Market following the offer. The construction arm’s shares remain below their record high of 20 dirhams, reached in February before the regional conflict began.

The planned buyout comes amid continued uncertainty for Dubai’s real estate and hospitality sectors. Emaar founder and chair Mohamed Alabbar told Reuters in September that he expected Dubai property prices to fall by an average of 5% this year because of the conflict. He said sales were below pre-war levels but described the market as resilient. Dubai’s tourism activity has largely resumed following war-related disruptions, while the recovery in sectors such as hospitality could take longer. The number of real estate projects completed in Dubai rose 39% in the first half of 2026, the UAE state news agency reported, citing the Dubai Land Department.

The offer also follows a change in Emaar Properties’ shareholding. Dubai Holding, an investment group owned by Dubai’s ruler, became Emaar’s largest shareholder with about a 30% stake after the emirate’s wealth fund, ICD, transferred its entire holding to a Dubai Holding subsidiary. Jefferies analysts said on Tuesday that the transaction could increase Emaar Properties’ exposure to what they described as a premium, cash-rich asset that continues to yield more than 9%.