Qatar’s construction sector continued to exhibit positive sentiments with building permits issued witnessing double-digit monthly growth in July as the country entered the third phase of easing of the Covid-19 restrictions, according to the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its latest data, the PSA also found a double-digit month-on-month increase in the building completion certificates issued in the review period.

The PSA figures suggest that the total number of new building permits issued were 684, of which Al Rayyan constituted 29% or 196 permits, Wakrah (22% or 150), Doha (17% or 116), Al Daayen (16% or 106), Umm Slal (8% or 56), Al Khor (5% or 31), Al Shahaniya (2% or 17) and Al Shamal (2% or 12).

On a monthly basis, at the national level, the number of building permits issued grew 20% with Umm Slal reporting 87% surge, Al Khor (41%), Wakrah and Doha (20% each), Al Rayyan (17%) and Al Daayen (6%); while Al Shamal and Al Shahaniya witnessed 8% and 6% declines respectively.

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 49% (336 permits) of the total building permits issued this July, additions 47% (320 permits), and fencing 4% (28 permits).

Of the new residential buildings permits, villas topped the list, accounting for 68% (175 permits) of the total, dwellings of housing loans 21% (54 permits) and apartments 7% (28 permits).

Among non-residential sector, commercial structures accounted for 46% or 36 permits, the industrial buildings as workshops and factories 28% (22 permits) and government buildings 12% (nine permits).

Qatar saw a total of 354 building completion certificates issued this July, of which 265 or 75% was for the new buildings (residential and non-residential) and 89 or 25% for additions.

Al Rayyan municipality topped the municipalities with 100 certificates or 28% of the total, Wakrah 84 (24%), Doha 60 (17%), Al Daayen 59 (17%), Umm Slal 18 (5%), Al Shahaniya 17 (5%), Al Khor 11 (3%) and Al Shamal five (1%).

The overall building completion certificates issued saw a 16% jump month-on-month in July 2020 with Al Shamal growing 89%, Al Khor (38%), Doha (15%), Al Rayyan (11%), Wakrah (8%), Umm Slal (6%) and Al Daayen (2%); even as Al Shamal declined 38%.

Of the 221 residential buildings completion certificates issued, as many as 124 or 56% were for villas, dwellings of housing loans 80 or 36% and apartments 10 or 5%.

Of the 124 villas completion certificates issued this July, as many as 40 were in Al Daayen, 33 in Rayyan, 19 in Wakra, 10 in Doha, eight in Umm Slal, five each in Al Khor and Al Shahaniya and four in Al Shamal.

Of the 80 dwellings of housing loans completion certificates issued, Wakrah saw 34, Al Rayyan (29), Al Daayen (six), Umm Slal (five) and Al Shahaniya (two).

In the case of 10 apartments, Doha received nine completion certificates issued and Al Daayen one.