Doha, Qatar: Now is the ideal time to invest in Qatar, where a combination of government incentives, economic stability, safety, and lifestyle appeal is drawing foreign buyers in droves, the Executive Director of Commercial & Properties at UDC, Hussain Akbar Al Baker, has said.
“The real estate sector is growing very quickly. The government is working towards bringing in foreign investors to cater to the large number of developments being constructed,” Al Baker told The Peninsula on the sidelines of an event recently.
According to him, the market currently favours buyers with an oversupply of properties, leading to a price correction. However, Al Baker predicts a reversal: “Within the coming few years, you will see that the demand will be high and the supply will be low. This dynamic positions Qatar as a prime investment destination right now, before prices escalate. Investors can capitalise on undervalued assets while enjoying long-term growth potential, fuelled by the nation’s economic diversification and post-World Cup infrastructure legacy.”
Al Baker attributed much of the sector’s resilience to Qatar’s global reputation as one of the world’s safest and most stable countries. “Qatar has portrayed itself as a very safe haven for foreigners who are not looking for a loud life but for a subtle, safe, and child-friendly country,” he said. This sense of security, combined with the nation’s modern infrastructure and investor-friendly policies, has made Qatar increasingly attractive to both regional and international buyers.
He pointed out that the Qatari government offers generous incentives for foreign investors, particularly through two categories of property-linked residency programmes. Investments starting from $200,000 grant foreigners a 99-year renewable residency, covering the investor, their spouse, and children.
A higher investment tier of a minimum of $1 million provides additional privileges, including opportunities to open businesses, as well as schooling and health insurance benefits.
“The government is continuously enhancing these benefits to attract more foreign investors,” Al Baker added.
According to Al Baker, UDC’s developments—including The Pearl Island, Qanat Quartier, Medina Centrale, Viva Bahriya, and Porto Arabia—have long defined Qatar’s luxury real estate landscape.
This year, the company is spotlighting the final phase of its flagship development, Gewan Island, marking a shift from traditional real estate sales to promoting an integrated lifestyle.
“We’re not selling you real estate; we are selling you a lifestyle,” Al Baker declared, highlighting Gewan Island’s state-of-the-art features. The development boasts a mix of apartments ranging from one-bedroom units to spacious five-bedroom duplexes, alongside villas, a luxury hotel, a golf club, and comprehensive retail amenities. Waterfront and beachfront plots, allowing investors to build custom dream homes, sold out within 48 to 72 hours of launch – a testament to the project’s appeal. “We had more than 50 plots, and they were gone in no time,” Al Baker said.
