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[mesquite]

[lollaerd]

Good news for people who have to pay their own rent.



Rents likely to fall as suburbs �lure�

The availability of new residential properties outside Doha these days at lower rents will prompt many city residents to move out in the coming months, say real estate agents.

The demand for residential properties in the city is falling and inquiries dwindling with each passing day, officials of some prominent real estate firms told Gulf Times yesterday.

�When a big building in Abdulla bin Thani area was earmarked for demolition, most of its tenants � that included families � preferred to shift into properties outside the city limit as rents there were less compared to properties available in the city,� the manager of a real estate firm manager said.

He added that inquiries made by his firm revealed that even owners of most commercial establishments operating from that building Abdulla bin Thani area had little hesitation to move out to properties outside the city.

While commercial properties in Doha, particularly in locations such as on Salwa Road and Airport Road were still in demand, the same could not be said about the other available options in the city.

Saleh Shabban, a real estate agent, confirmed that most inquiries were received for locations with adequate space for parking.

�Most entrepreneurs also seek office spaces in locations having less traffic congestion,� he said.

Endorsing similar sentiments another real estate professional said when infrastructure facilities in newly-developed locations were completed there would be more demand for properties there.

�While considering shifting, residents are also looking for the availability of facilities such as travel convenience, proximity to schools and healthcare institutions, and of course the presence of shopping malls,� he observed.

In Wakrah, many new ventures, including hospitals and clinics are coming up and this could be the reason why residents are looking for accommodation in the area, added the agent.

Inquiries in the real estate market found that Wakrah was fast becoming one of the most sought after city suburbs for residents due to the availability of a large number of new accommodations. Advertisements placed in the newspapers are proof of this.

Most real estate agents generally feel that it would take a considerably longer time than expected for recovery in upmarket areas such as West Bay and its neighbouring locations.

�Even though a large number of properties are lying vacant in these areas, the number of fresh inquiries is bare minimum,� said an agent, who claimed dealing only with high-end clients.

The availability of independent villas for as low as QR7,500 and 8,000 in locations like Ain Khaled has prompted some residents, who were occupying two- or three-bedroom apartments in places like Muntazah for QR8,500 and QR9,500, to shift there, another agent said.

�This is an example of a mass migration, from the city to the suburbs; that could happen in the coming months,� he added.

[lollaerd]

Men make up three quarters of Qatar's population
The figures represent a 51,678 increase over the month of November

Men make up three quarters of the total population of Qatar, official figures have indicated.

Out of a total population of Qatar of 1,631,728 at the end of the year, men, both Qataris and non-Qataris, numbered 1,254,092 while women were 377,636, the official statistics authority said.

The figures represent a 51,678 increase over the month of November. However, they do not include the Qataris who were outside the country at the end of December.

The disproportionately high male figure is attributed to the presence of hundreds of thousands of foreign workers employed in the booming construction sector, mainly bachelors or unaccompanied husbands from the Asian continent.

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[lollaerd]

Sharp decline in vegetable prices

DOHA Prices of vegetables like potatoes, onions and tomatoes have registered a steep decline in recent days. Currently they are being sold at almost half the price compared with a few weeks ago. Earlier one kilogram of potato used to cost QR2 at the Meisameer wholesale market.
Now it is being sold at QR1 a kg. Onions are now being sold at QR2 a kg against QR4 a kg a few days ago. Price of tomatoes has come down from QR 3 to QR1 a kg. Similarly, prices of carrot, capsicum, cabbage and cucumber have gone down from QR6 per kg to QR4 per kg and below.

While consumers are happy because the falling prices have lowered their monthly household bills, traders too are buoyant as sales have gone up.
Talking to Qatar Tribune, traders attributed the fall in vegetable prices to the bulk supply from local farms.
Shahidull Islam, a Bangladeshi trader, who is in the business for the past five years, said: "During the winter season, local produce starts coming to the market which pushes down the prices. We are currently receiving vegetables from areas like Al Wakrah, Sanaiya, Dukhan and Al Shamal. Although we are still importing some commodities from some foreign countries, the local inflow has played a major role in making the vegetables cheaper." Shahidull said the reduced prices had boosted his sales as well as the profit.

"We are doing a good business today as low prices tend to fuel consumption. Moreover, the pleasant weather is also helping us as our products remain fresh for a longer time unlike the summer season when they rot in intense heat," he said. Mohamed Akbar, a trader who has been at the market for the past 18 years, said that even the imported vegetables are available at cheaper rates these days. "For example, a kg of lemon from Turkey is now priced at QR5, earlier it was QR7 per kg.
We are experiencing a rush of buyers, especially of Indonesians, Filipinos, Nepalese, Indians and Qataris. Our business is normally good during this part of the year," he added.

[wilberforce]

Qatar is a very expensive country to live in, much more expensive than the UAE. A lot of Qataris go shopping in Dubai and they say even paying the difference on air cargo makes some things cheaper. I am not sure about that but all you need to do is buy a Gulf Times paper (Qatar) and a Gulf News paper (UAE) and compare prices for places like Lulu and Carrefour. You will notice the prices in the UAE are cheaper, especially for food and electronic goods. I am not so sure about clothing. The night life in the UAE is more expensive because there is so much more to do and so much more temptation to spend!! The malls are addictive for some.

[paperback]

[paperback]

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=403920&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

[lollaerd]

Higher and higher. They say even Qataris are struggling with the high costs. More and more women are starting to work to help add to the family paycheck.

[paperback]

Food, garment and footwear get dearer; rents stable

DOHA: Food prices, which are rising worldwide, continue to put some constraints on household budgets in Qatar, official inflation figures released yesterday suggest.

Prices have overall risen more than three percent (3.08 percent) since November last year if one excludes the falling rent, household and energy prices, thanks mainly to food, transport, communications and garments becoming costlier.
Rents have been declining (falling seven percent since November last year) but rising food and other prices have been keeping the inflationary pressures up, much to the chagrin of limited-income people and families.
Food, transport and communications became 4.12 percent more expensive in November this year as compared to the corresponding month last year.

According to Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures released by the Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA), food, transport and communications became 1.49 percent dearer last month alone (when compared to October 2010).
The prices rose overall in November 2010 as compared to the previous month (October) although the increase was marginal at 0.35 percent.
Garments and footwear were also not spared with their rates jumping as much as 3.06 percent in November over the same month in 2009. These items were 1.59 percent more expensive even while comparing with October 2010 figures, the QSA said.

A great respite was, though, witnessed in rent, household fuel and energy prices which overall fell in the past, but the rates were stable between October and November 2010.
THE PENINSULA

[WantToKnow]

One can walk to a shopping center and take a taxi in Doha. Private drivers are expensive. Buildings are poorly built, and there is a LOT of slave labor and very poor planning. All that glitters is definitely not gold. What may look good on the outside may be falling apart and have very unsanitary and unsafe living and working conditions inside. What to do? Walk on the concrete and inhale air from the traffic. Spend money in upscale malls and other retail settings where you may or may not get what you want, including healthy food.

[wilberforce]

Extremely high - the most expensive country in the Gulf. Make sure your job pays well with housing, airline tickets and if you have kids - school fees. Otherwise, you won't be able to cope.

[wilberforce]

[battleshipb_b]

Every weekend you find hundreds of Qataris shopping in Al Khobar, Damman etc. because things are cheaper. They buy their sheep meat, clothes and even gas here. The magic kingdom is a cheaper place to live in and shop in which is why so many Qataris come here. You see their cars all over the streets. On the other hand, the expats here head to Qatar (used to be Bahrain) for the weekend booze-up but the cost of hotels in Qatar has put most of us off. We'll all be heading back to cheaper, more tourist friendly Bahrain as things there have calmed down.

[the lowlander]

Speaking from personal experience, Qatar is by far the most expensive country in the Gulf.

As previous posters have mentioned, and as I've posted myself in other threads, most Qataris do their shopping in Saudi and the UAE.

This is not a readily available option for ex-pats who cannot enter Saudi without a visa, and who also need to obtain an exit visa from their employers (with confirmed return flight details) even for a weekend break.

[millie18]

Sorry, but in 6 years I've never been asked to show my airline ticket. I ask for an exit pass weeks in advance whether I have a ticket in hand or not and have always been given it, whether I use it or not.

Of course, it may depend on the employer.