The New Real Estate Brokerage Law: Protecting Sellers and Buyers
Regulating the Real Estate Market Law No. 22 of 2017 was enacted to regulate real estate brokerage activities, eliminating unlicensed brokers who cause price chaos and fraud. Obligations of a Real Estate Broker Licensing: The profession may only be practiced by an office licensed by the Ministry of Justice. Integrity: All details and defects of […]
Decennial Liability: The 10-Year Guarantee in Construction Projects
Guaranteeing Building Safety Due to the danger construction work poses to public safety, the Qatari Civil Code (Articles 711-715) imposes a strict guarantee known as “Decennial Liability.” Who is Liable? Liability falls jointly on the Engineer (Designer and Supervisor) and the Contractor. They guarantee any total or partial collapse occurring in the building for 10 […]
Buying Property in Qatar: Designated Zones and Residency Benefits
A New Market for International Investors Historically, property ownership in the Gulf was restricted to nationals. However, Qatar has aggressively liberalized its real estate sector to attract foreign capital. Cabinet Resolution No. 28 of 2020 formalized the regulations allowing non-Qataris (both residents and non-residents) to own real estate in specific zones. This initiative not only […]
Buying Off-Plan Property: Risks and Protection
Attraction and Risks Developers offer attractive prices and easy payment plans for properties still under construction (Off-Plan). However, this investment carries risks of delivery delay or developer default. Escrow Account To protect investors, developers must deposit buyers’ funds into a “Guarantee Account” (Escrow) specific to the project. Funds are only released based on construction milestones […]
Construction Disputes: FIDIC Contracts and Qatari Law
The Construction Sector in Qatar Qatar is witnessing a massive urban boom, and with it, disputes between developers and contractors increase. Most major contracts in Qatar rely on FIDIC models modified to suit Qatari law. Common Causes of Disputes Delays in Execution: Application of Liquidated Damages (LADs). Variations: Disagreements over pricing additional work requested by […]