Life on the Spot! Life and Leisure in Doha, Qatar

As stated before, we are moving to another flat, hopefully, somewhere near Bin Omran, Bin Mahmoud, or Al Rayyan. We’ve been able to look at some flats the other week and surprisingly, rates for these flats are better than what one was getting a year ago. Last year, an unfurnished 2 bedroom flat would surely cost you 8000-8500Qr. From what we saw now, the same flats would cost you 6500QR. I just called Al Emadi and was told that they have a fully furnished 3 bedroom flat in Bin Mahmoud for 10,000QR. Looking at the flats that they have, they provide spacious flats and big rooms. Otherwise, other semi-furnished 3 bedroom flats would cost you 7500QR upwards. The rates may not have gone down that much but a 1000QR drop is better than nothing.

Looking back 3 years ago, everybody was telling everybody that the Asian Games completion would bring lower rents.  That never happened. When we came here, 2005, we were paying 4700QR for our 2 bedroom flat. Now it has gone up to 6000QR. From what I’ve heard from our building-mate downstairs, they renewed their contract for 7000QR. Yeah, forget about the law that prohibits increases in rates till next year. For the amount I’m paying now, I could be living in a posh compound in Saudi Arabia!

This is the week that Mavis and I decided to really start looking for a flat as we only have a month and a half to move before our vacation in July. I’m currently doing a list of all ads that I could find (newspaper, online) and recommended real estate agents that we could call. Hopefully, we’d be able to see one which we like and would fit our budget and the location. Wish us luck!