The social distancing measures in view of Covid-19 appears to have impacted Qatar’s construction sector outlook as seven of the eight municipalities reported double-digit decline in the number of building permits issued in May this year, according to the official figures.
In its latest figures, the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) also found a substantial decrease in the building completion certificates issued across the municipalities in the review period.
The PSA figures suggest that the total number of new building permits issued were 271, of which Al Rayyan constituted 21% or 57 permits, Doha (20% or 54), Wakrah (19% or 51), Al Daayen (16% or 43), Umm Slal (12% or 32), Al Shahaniya (6% or 15), Al Khor (5% or 14) and Al Shamal (2% or five).
On a monthly basis, at the national level, there was a 44% plunge in the building permits issued with Al Rayyan plummeting 56%, Doha (55%), Al Shamal and Wakrah (50% each), Al Khor (39%), Al Daayen (26%) and Umm Slal (3%); whereas there was a three-fold increase in the building permits issued in Al Shahaniya.
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 57% (154 permits) of the total building permits issued this May, additions 42% (115 permits), and fencing 1% (two permits).
Of the new residential buildings permits, villas topped the list, accounting for 65% (71 permits) of the total, dwellings of housing loans 21% (24 permits) and apartments 10% (11 permits).
Among non-residential sector, commercial structures accounted for 49% or 19 permits, industrial buildings as workshops and factories 28% (11 permits) and the government buildings 15% (six permits).
Qatar saw a total of 158 building completion certificates issued in May this year, of which 119 or 75% was for the new buildings (residential and non-residential) and 39 or 25% for additions in May 2020.
Al Rayyan municipality topped the municipalities with 58 certificates or 37% of the total, Wakrah 34 (22%), Doha 25 (16%), Al Daayen 20 (13%), Umm Slal nine (6%), Al Shahaniya seven (4%), Al Khor four (3%) and Al Shamal one (1%).
The overall building completion certificates issued witnessed a 39% decrease month-on-month with Al Shamal witnessing 67% plunge, Umm Slal (64%), Al Daayen (60%), Al Rayyan (37%), Al Khor (33%), Doha (29%) and Wakrah (21%); whereas there was a 17% increase in those issued in Al Shahaniya.
Of the 97 residential buildings completion certificates issued, as many as 58 or 60% were for villas, dwellings of housing loans 33 or 34% and apartments three or 3%.
Of the 58 villas completion certificates issued this May, as many as 22 were in Al Rayyan, 10 in Al Daayen, nine in Doha, seven in Wakrah, five in Umm Slal, four in Al Khor and one in Al Shamal.
Of the 33 dwellings of housing loans completion certificates issued, Al Rayyan saw 15, Wakrah 12, Umm Slal and Al Daayen (two each), and Doha and Al Shahaniya (one each).
In the case of apartments, Doha received as many as two completion certificates issued and Al Daayen one.