Qatar's construction sector rebounded with a strong growth in July this year, as reflected by robust expansion in the new building permits issued in Al Shamal, Al Wakrah, Al Sheehaniya, Al Khor and Umm Slal municipalities, according to the official data.

Al Rayyan, Doha and Wakrah together constituted 68% of the total 698 building permits issued in Qatar last month, the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) said in the data released on Tuesday.

On geographical basis, the PSA found that Al Rayyan remained atop the municipalities where the number of building permits issued were 188 or 27% of the total permits, Doha 151 (22%), Al Wakrah 131 (19%), Al Daayen 85 (12%), Umm Slal 58 (8%), Al Khor 39 (6%), Al Sheehaniya 31 (4%), and Al Shamal 15 (2%).

On a month-on-month basis, total number of permits issued in the country witnessed a robust 51% increase in July 2019 with Al Shamal witnessing a huge 150% growth, Al Wakrah (68%), Al Sheehaniya and Al Khor (63% each), Umm Slal (61%), Al Rayyan (50%), Doha (41%) and Al Daayen (25%).

The building permits data is 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 PSA data indicates that the new building permits (residential and non-residential) constituted 50% (352 permits) of the total building permits issued in July this year, while additions constituted 48% (334 permits), and fencing 2% (12 permits).

Of the new residential buildings permits, PSA found that villas’ topped the list, accounting for 68% (198 permits) of all new residential building permits, dwellings of housing loans 24% (71 permits) and apartments 7% (20 permits).

Governmental buildings were found to be in the forefront of non-residential building permits with 29% (17 permits), followed by industrial building likes workshops and factories 27% (16 permits) and commercial buildings 25% (15 permits).

Qatar witnessed a total of 383 building completion certificates issued in July, of which 266 was for residential buildings, 25 for non-residential and 92 for additions.

Total building completion certificate issued witnessed 38% jump month-on-month with Al Shamal registering 250% surge, Al Wakrah (103%), Doha (76%), Al Rayyan (25%), Al Daayen (18%) and Umm Slal (5%); while Al Khor reported 35% decline and Al Sheehaniya treaded a flat course in the review period.

Of the 266 residential buildings completion certificates issued, as many as 154 were for villas, 93 for dwellings of housing loans, 17 for apartments and two for others.

During July, Al Rayyan issued as many as 125 building completion certificates or 33% of the total, Wakrah 81 (21%), Doha 74 (19%), Al Daayen 53 (14%), Umm Slal 23 (6%), Al Khor 11 (3%), Al Sheehaniya 9 (2%) and Al Shamal 7 (2%).

Of the 154 villas completion certificates issued, as many as 53 were in Al Rayyan, 32 in Al Daayen, 21 in Doha, 18 in Wakrah, 15 in Umm Slal, 7 in Al Shamal, 6 in Al Khor and 2 in Al Sheehaniya.

Of the 93 dwellings of housing loans completion certificates issued, Al Wakrah saw 45 certificates being issued, followed by 29 in Al Rayyan, nine in Al Daayen, five in Al Sheehaniya, three in Doha and one each in Al Khor and Umm Slal.

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