Located only 23 kilometers north of downtown Doha, Qatar is Lusail City, a city of the future. Qatar’s first green city, Lusail stands out for the use of sustainable, cutting-edge technologies in its development.
Ranked as one of the richest countries in the world, Qatar attracts a lot of people from all around the world. Approximately 88% of the country’s population is composed of expats and foreign dignitaries and their families. Of Qatar’s total population, about 90% reside in Doha, but Lusail City is bound to change that with its future-friendly amenities, not to mention its real estate for sale and rent.
Are you considering Lusail City as your new home for the foreseeable future? This guide will help you find the best apartments for rent in the community.
Table of contents
Renting in Qatar
Renting in Lusail City
Types of rental properties
Requirements
Estimated costs and other fees
Contracts and renting
Paying your rent
How to find apartments
Buying vs. renting
Getting to know Lusail City
Neighborhoods
Eco-friendly amenities
Attractions
Getting around Lusail
Why rent in Qatar with 25 Spaces?
Renting in Qatar
A highly developed country, Qatar has an incredible line-up of rental options. This provides an alternative if buying a home isn’t for you. However, if this is your first time looking for a place to rent in Qatar or in Lusail City specifically, there are some things you need to keep in mind.
Even if Qatar has opened opportunities in the housing market so foreigners can purchase homes, renting is still the go-to option for many people. In fact, approximately 75% of the entire population, specifically expats, rent, with roughly 60% of the residential properties in the country available for rent.
Unfortunately, rent can be expensive in the country. According to Colliers International, an average household in Qatar spends more than a third of its income on rent. While utilities can be affordable in this area, it’s best to be wise and choose a rental according to your needs and budget.
Renting in Lusail City
Lusail City’s green sprawl will feature residential areas, international hotels and resorts, luxury shopping and leisure facilities, commercial centers, and a golf course. These are just some of the reasons why apartments for rent in Lusail City are highly coveted by those seeking luxury, convenience, and sustainability.
The benefits of living in Lusail City
One of the major attractions of Lusail City is the Lusail Stadium. It will host the opening and final matches of the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Lusail City occupies 38 square kilometers of total area. This includes 19 districts and 4 islands. An estimated 200,000 residents can live here comfortably.
With most of Qatar arid low-lying desert, Lusail City offers a refreshing respite with its greenery. But the green in this city isn’t only limited to its landscaping. Lusail City features energy-efficient and environmentally friendly measures such as underground tunnels that carry chilled water to cool the city. Learn more about Lusail City’s eco-friendly features here.
Lusail City is also a smart city. Most apartments for rent in the area are equipped with smart home features.
Types of rental properties in Lusail City
Apartments for rent in Lusail City widely vary in terms of size, style, and amenities. Your options will include:
Villas in compounds - Some of the largest residential real estate in Lusail City; ideal if you want plenty of room or if you have kids. Villas are typically found in gated communities with common amenities such as swimming pools, playgrounds, and small shops.
Standalone villas - More exclusive than villas in compounds, these rentals offer lots of square footage and private amenities such as swimming pools and gardens. As a result, standalone villas are considerably more expensive to rent. The perks, however, may be worth it.
Apartments - Ranging from one-person studios to four-bedroom rentals, living in an apartment building gives you access to amenities like gyms and pools without always paying a premium. Note that older buildings might not have the same features.
Serviced apartments - Perfect if you’ve just moved to Qatar; the daily rates for these rentals typically include housekeeping and buffet breakfast. Serviced apartments also offer more flexibility— you can rent one for days, weeks, or months.
Requirements
The renting process in Qatar is efficient and quick if you have all the requirements and paperwork on hand. Prepare the following before you shop for an apartment to rent:
Residence permit/visa
Qatar ID card
Employer’s/sponsor’s ID card/trade license and your salary slip
A checkbook with at least 13 blank checks
These items are usually required in signing a rental agreement. If you find an apartment you love, you’ll be able to submit an application right away.
Estimated costs and other fees
In Doha, studio apartments near the city or downtown centers start at around QR5,000 per month. A one-bedroom apartment will cost you approximately QR6,000 and up per month depending on the location and amenities provided.
A two- or three-bedroom apartment may cost upwards of QR7,500 per month. Apartments in high-end areas such as The Pearl could cost anywhere between QR10,000 and QR12,000 per month. Premium villas will cost you at least QR15,000 per month.
Maintenance fees for common areas, such as the gym, lobby, swimming pool, and corridors, are typically included in your rent. But if you’re renting a villa, maintenance fees may vary depending on your contract.
Note that the Real Estate Lease Contracts Office will require you to pay an annual registration fee of 0.5% of your rent’s annual value. This can be anywhere between QR250 to QR2,500. If you plan on renewing your lease, you’re not required to pay a renewal fee, only the annual registration fee.
Contracts and renting
Lease contracts are typically written in Arabic, but an English copy will be provided. You might want to hire a translator to help you go over both copies of the contract. Doing so ensures nothing has been mistranslated or left out. In the unlikely case of a dispute, the Arabic contract will have legal standing, not the English translation.
Payment, security deposits, and checks
It’s common practice in Qatar to pay your rent in the form of post-dated checks that cover the entire duration of your contract before you move in. If you are renting the apartment for a year, that means you’ll need to submit 12 post-dated checks. Do note other landlords have payment arrangements. For instance, some prefer you to pay quarterly rent instead of monthly; that may translate to four post-dated checks instead of twelve.
You are also required to pay a security deposit, which is usually your monthly rate or half of it. This additional fee is refundable provided that the apartment remains unscathed at the end of your stay aside from the usual wear and tear. Keep your receipt to claim your refund.
Lastly, remember that contracts are binding for the agreed time period. If you leave earlier than what’s stated in the contract, you will need to pay a penalty. This amount is typically two months’ rent. In addition, you will need to give the landlord a two months’ notice before leaving.
Finding apartments for rent in Lusail City
There are many ways to find apartments for rent in Lusail City. The first one is getting in touch with property owners. This way, you can negotiate lease terms and raise concerns in person. This is an ideal route if you are fluent in conversational Arabic and already have a good grasp of Qatar’s real estate market.
Another method you can try is going through classified ads and online listings. Because you can’t verify the state of the unit with only pictures or videos posted online or in newspapers, some of these properties may not meet your expectations. That said, you can always vet potential apartments later on.
Browsing through online real estate marketplaces and websites offer a more secure and easier way to look for apartments to rent. With just a few clicks, you can get a detailed description of the properties you’re interested in, as well as multiple high-quality photos. If you are looking for an apartment to rent in Qatar from abroad, this is a good way to scope your options.
The most popular way to find apartments to rent in Lusail is through licensed real estate agents because it’s fast, easy, and convenient. Agents typically have a wide catalog of properties available for viewing— they will be able to recommend apartments to rent based on your needs, budget, and lifestyle preferences. After you’ve picked a few, you can schedule viewings to see if the properties match up to your expectations.
If you’re interested in quality client service and extensive knowledge of Lusail City’s real estate market, you can contact 25 Spaces Real Estate.
Buying vs. renting
One of the important questions to answer before you proceed with any real estate transaction is whether you should buy or rent. And like anywhere else, the final answer ultimately depends on your needs, finances, as well as plans in Qatar.
If you intend to stay in Qatar for more than five years (or for good) with a stable income, buying a home may be your best bet. But if you only have short-term plans to stay in Qatar, renting an apartment might be the best option. The latter also calls for you to move fast; with the 2022 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, finding an apartment to rent in Lusail City may become more challenging in the months to come.
Getting to know Lusail City
“Lusail” comes from the term al wassail, a Qatari name for a plant that grows in the area. This place is where Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, the founder of the State of Qatar, settled and built Lusail Castle. The area has national and historical significance, which made it the best location to build Qatar’s newest modern city.
Lusail City is developed by Lusail Real Estate Development Company (LREDC), which is government-funded and part of the Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company. It’s one of the most innovative projects in the country, a site where you can see how Qatari tradition and Islamic architecture blends with technology and sustainability.
Neighborhoods
Lusail City is divided into 18 districts, with a majority offering both commercial and residential real estate opportunities. These include:
Al Kharayej
Al Nafel
Al Khuzama
Al Tarfa
Al Maja Island
Al Wessil
Al Yasmeen
Al Erkyah
North and South Fox Hills
Marina District
Naifa
Waterfront Residential District
Read more about this neighborhood here.
Lusail: A smart city
As mentioned earlier, Lusail City has all the makings for an environmentally conscious and future-friendly city. Once completed, the entire community will benefit from the following:
District cooling system – This sophisticated underground piping system will have a total length of 175 kilometers, making it one of the largest district cooling systems in the world. It’s expected to cut Lusail City’s energy consumption and related expenses.
Green building ratings – Lusail City will have its own performance-based rating system that will encourage buildings in the area to keep being green. So far, all of the buildings in Lusail City are rated two stars.
Pneumatic waste collection – Waste pollution will be significantly reduced at Lusail City through its advanced pneumatic waste collection system. This turns waste into recyclables and does away with conventional waste collection (trucks and bins).
Attractions
Some of Lusail City’s most popular attractions include:
Lusail City Stadium - Also called the Lusail Iconic Stadium/Lusail National Stadium, this is Qatar’s main football stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The stadium is expected to have 80,000 seats.
Lusail Sports Arena – This multipurpose sports hall has a total seating capacity of 15,300, with facilities to host basketball, volleyball, and entertainment events. This arena’s color scheme reflects the desert, the sea, and the colors of Qatari pearls.
Lusail Marina - A prime hotspot for tourists and residents, Lusail Marina is home to the three-kilometer Marina Promenade, where residents can jog, walk, or bike by the water. One of Lusail City’s signature events, Light Me Lusail, is also held here.
Lusail Shooting Club - If you want a unique experience in the city, you can shoot clay pigeons at the Lusail Shooting Club for only QAR 100. Lusail Shooting Club also hosted the 15th Asian Games and Arab Games in 2006 and 2011, respectively.
Crescent Park Lusail – Located in the Fox Hills district, Crescent Park is one of the largest and best-known parks in Lusail, offering 275,000 square meters of greenery. It was opened in March 2019 and features desert-themed playgrounds, kid-friendly attractions, as well as cycling routes, gardens, landscapes, and sports facilities. Its most iconic landmark is the Arch, a massive steel structure with a view deck at the top that can accommodate up to 100 visitors.
Qetaifan Islands and Waterpark - Qetaifan has four different islands, which will soon be the home of Lusail City’s main entertainment hubs. The main attraction of the islands is the Lusail Waterpark, which is spread across over 280,000 square meters and will include an 85-meter slide, the highest in the world.
Place Vendôme - Named after the famous square in Paris, the Place Vendôme mall in Lusail City is home to over 600 luxury brands along specialty stores and restaurants in its 1,150,000-square meter sprawl. Construction began in 2014 and is expected to finish in the first quarter of 2022, just in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Entertainment City – Lusail’s entertainment capital, this 100-hectare entertainment complex will be divided into five smaller districts (Corniche, The Villas, Downtown, North Shore, and South Shore). Place Vendôme Mall is located here, as well as Entertainment Island and Entertainment City Cinema.
Getting around Lusail
Lusail City is highly accessible from Doha. Several means of transport are available in the area, including the Doha Metro. Once the link is finished, travel time between Doha and Lusail by Doha Metro can take about 30 minutes.
The Doha Metro will also be connected to Lusail’s own tram network. It will cover 28 kilometers, with 25 stations in between for convenient travel within and between Lusail City and its districts. The tram network will have three lines and 28 trains.
Getting your own car may be a great option if you’re planning to be in Qatar and intend to do lots of traveling between Doha, Lusail, and other commercial centers.
Why rent in Qatar with 25 Spaces
Moving to a new place can be stressful and time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re eyeing apartments for rent in Lusail City, 25 Spaces Real Estate can take the guesswork out of finding the right property options for you. Our outstanding customer service, consistency, professionalism, and efficiency establish our reputation among our clients.
Visit our office at The Pearl-Qatar, Medina Centrale, Al Hambra St., Building No. 8, Unit No. 64. You can also get in touch with us by calling (+974) 4464 2525 or by sending an e-mail to info@25spaces.com.
