Qatar’s private sector, especially the construction segment, is poised for a good start this year as prospects brightened with the overall building permits issued saw a robust double-digit growth month-on-month in December 2020, according to the official statistics.
In its latest data, the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA), nevertheless, found a decrease month-on-month in the building completion certificates issued in the review period.
The PSA figures show the total number of new building permits issued were 972, of which Al Daayen constituted 26% or 248 permits, Doha (21% or 200), Al Rayyan (19% or 189), Umm Slal (9% or 90), Al Khor (4% or 41), Al Shahaniya (3% or 30) and Al Shamal (3% or 25).
On a monthly basis, at the national level, the number of building permits issued soared 28 with Al Daayen witnessing 68% surge, Al Shahaniya (58%), Umm Slal (50%), Al Shamal (39%), Al Rayyan (30%) and Doha (24%); while Al Khor and Al Wakra registered 13% and 9% decline 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 52% (507 permits) of the total building permits issued in December 2020, with additions accounting for 44% (429 permits) and fencing 4% (36 permits).
Of the new residential buildings permits, villas topped the list, accounting for 81% (237 permits) of the total, dwellings of housing loans 10% (30 permits) and apartments 7% (20 permits).
Among the non-residential sector, commercial structures accounted for 44% or 36 permits, industrial buildings as workshops and factories 31% (25 permits) and government buildings 19% (15 permits).
Qatar saw a total of 319 building completion certificates issued in December 2020, of which 220 or 69% was for the new buildings (residential and non-residential) and 99 or 31% for additions.
The PSA figures suggest that of the total number of new building permits issued in December last year, Al Rayyan constituted 30% or 95 certificates, Al Wakra (24% or 77), Doha (14% or 44), Al Daayen (11% or 35), Umm Slal (10% or 32), Al Shahaniya (6% or 18), Al Khor (3% or 10) and Al Shamal (3% or eight).
The overall building completion certificates issued saw a 10% slump month-on-month in December 2020 with Al Daayen registering 51% plunge, Doha (33%) and Al Wakra (10%).
Nevertheless, Al Shahaniya witnessed three-fold jump and there was a 25% increase in Al Khor, 20% in Al Rayyan and 7% in Umm Slal. The Al Shamal municipality maintained a flat path in the review period.
Of the 179 residential buildings completion certificates issued, as many as 104 or 58% were for villas, 64 or 36% for dwellings of housing loans and six or 3% for apartments.
In terms of geography, Al Rayyan received 95 certificates or 30% of the total in December 2020, Al Wakra (77 or 24%), Doha (44 or 14%), Al Daayen (35 or 11%), Umm Slal (32 or 10%), Al Shahaniya (18 or 6%), Al Khor (10 or 3%) and Al Shamal (8 or 3%).
Of the 104 villas completion certificates issued in December, as many as 29 were in Al Wakra, 28 in Al Rayyan, 11 each in Doha and Umm Slal, nine in Al Daayen, seven in Al Khor, five in Al Shahaniya and four in Al Shamal.
Of the 64 dwellings of housing loans completion certificates issued, Al Rayyan saw 26, Al Daayen (14), Al Wakra (12), Umm Slal (six), Al Shahaniya (three), Al Khor (two) and Doha (one).
In the case of six apartments, Doha received three completion certificates issued, two in Al Wakra and one in Al Rayyan.