Why are Residents Choosing to Move Away from Doha?

In the past ten years, Qatar has been an attractive option for people around the world due to its speed of development, safety for citizens and workers, not to mention being the world's richest country in terms of income per capita. As soon as Qatar became the official host for the FIFA World Cup 2022, a tremendous change has been witnessed in the country. Be it in terms of living standards, job opportunities, sports, and entertainment events, Qatar did not disappoint. 

No doubt, living in Doha can be a fairly expensive option but it’s well worth it, given the well-being of the residents and the multitude of facilities, eateries, and landmarks for all to enjoy. Qatar’s population consists mostly of expats from around the world, which are major inhabitants of the capital of Qatar, Doha. Why? Because it is concentrated with the major facilities, packed with attractive sites and hotspots of the country. So, living in Doha owing to its high popularity and amenities, is comparatively an expensive option compared to living outside further north or even down in the south.

As the best-known and one of the most reliable property portals in Qatar,, Qatarliving Properties has seen a significant number of website searches for homes and commercial space outside of Doha. Here is why, renting somewhere to live in Qatar can be somewhat costly, depending on the location.  In Doha, a two-bedroomed family apartment can start at around QAR 5,000 and a three-bedroomed apartment would cost you around QAR 6,500 and so on. Stand-alone villas with four to five bedrooms would cost you 10,000- 12,000 QAR.

So where exactly are residents opting to search and move outside of Doha?? Qatar Living Properties has seen an increase in interest in living in the cities of Al Wakrah and Al Khor during 2021. Despite being very far from the center of the country, Al Wakrah and Al Khor are no outcasts, proving amazing and practical options for those not deterred by the potentially long commute to work, and here is why:

Al Wakrah

Did you know? Qatar’s economy was almost entirely dependent on Al Wakrah in early times. Al Wakrah is approximately 21km south of Doha, a pearling & fishing city with traditional architecture seen abundantly in mosques, old homes, and the Dhow harbor. 

Renting options: In Al Wakrah you will find many gated compounds with facilities like playgrounds, mosques, grocery shops, swimming pools, 24/7 security inside the compound and they are very affordable. You will see a significant difference between the costs of a family apartment in Doha. There are two and three-bedroomed apartments mostly in villa compounds and will cost you a maximum of QAR 5,000. Stand-alone villas in Al Wakrah would cost approximately QAR 8,000. Click here to view residential properties in Al Wakrah on our website.

Al Wakrah is home to Al Wakrah Hospital, which is the largest hospital building in Qatar, being 15% larger than Hamad General Hospital and Women's Hospital (in Doha) put together. Also, if you miss the Souq Waqif in Doha, the void will be beautifully filled by Souq Al Wakrah, a waterfront souq with a tranquil vibe and lots of restaurants and cafes to enjoy, click here to know more. Al Wakrah Sports Complex mimics the Qatar Sports Club and Lusail Marina Food Arena, where you can drive in and enjoy eating from your favorite eateries.

Apart from the amazing Souq, Ezdan Mall Al Wakrah opposite Al Wakrah Hospital is a good place to shop and eat. You will also find famous grocery stores like Lulu Hypermarket, Carrefour, various eateries, medical centers, and other convenience shops in close proximity. Almost every company in Doha has a branch in Al Wakrah, so you won’t miss anything. For children, Al Wakrah Public Garden is an excellent place to have fun. This garden has play areas, a lake with gardens. Al Wakrah Public Beach and Family Beach proves to be a great getaway on weekends for BBQ with friends or family. 

Al Wakrah is also home to Al Janoub Stadium, which is one of the eight stadiums for the FIFA World Cup 2022. You will also find a number of international curriculum schools like, GEMS American Academy and local schools, click here to view the list of schools in Al Wakrah. Do not worry about public transportation as one of the largest metro stations in Qatar, Al Wakrah Metro station (Red Line) is in this area. Away from the city’s hustle and bustle, this city proves to be the best option for people who wish to live in a place like Doha but for cheaper rental prices.

Al Khor

Al Khor city is located on the northeast coast of Qatar, around 53 km from Doha and it is considered one of the major cities in Qatar like Al Wakrah. Al Khor is a secluded city home to vast beaches, lush green parks, various resorts, natural reserves, and cultural attractions.  

Renting options: Standalone Villas and apartment buildings are abundant in Al Khor along with a huge gated compound, the Al Khor Community in Umm Enaig. The Al Khor community constitutes the biggest housing community in the country with about 15,000 residents. It is well-developed, includes the Al Khor International School (British & CBSE branch), a medical center, sports facilities, playgrounds, a skate park, mosque, grocery shops, swimming pool, 24/7 security inside the community. A two and three-bedroomed apartments will cost you a maximum of QAR 3,000 and QAR 5,000 respectively. The Standalone villas are either 6BHK or 5BHK, very convenient for large families, and will cost only QAR 7,000 - 8,000 per month. Click here to view residential properties in Al Khor on our website. 

When we say every facility, we mean it because Al Khor even has its own corniche & Souq Waqif! Along with serene beaches and natural areas, the Al Khor Corniche acts as a green lung of Al Khor, where people visit in the evenings or winter days for fresh air and good views. It mimics the corniche in Doha, the only difference is the quiet vibe and less crowd. Click here to know more.

Over the years, Al Khor has been developed in every way to accommodate communities living there with the best facilities improving the quality of life in this part of Qatar. In Al Khor, there are numerous beaches like Al- Farkeeh Beach, Al Sultan Beach and Resort for families, and more. You will also come across many parks within the residential areas and also seafront parks with playgrounds. The famous Al Khor Family Park & Zoo will always be the best weekend getaway for families. 

One of the top attractions of Qatar, The Purple Island lies in Al Khor. It is a peaceful Island with abundant mangroves and beautiful scenery all around. Another attraction in Al Khor is the Al Shuaa Reserve, a small natural area maintained in Al Khor, consisting of a few picnic tables, very basic playgrounds for kids and some animals. Al Khor is also home to Al Bayt Stadium, one of the stadiums for the FIFA World Cup 2022, and it is surrounded by Al Bayt park where you can find a lake, several eateries, exercise, and play areas, bicycle and jogging tracks.

Al Khor Mall is the major mall of the city consisting of all the brands so you wouldn't have to go to Doha. Lulu Hypermarket, Ansar Gallery, Safari, and Al Meera Hypermarket are all in Al Khor. Along with various medical centers, the city is home to Al Khor Hospital, one of Hamad Medical Corporation’s community hospitals delivering high-quality specialized care to the population living outside of Doha.

These two cities of Qatar serve as a great example that living outside Doha will not be as inconvenient as anyone would think. Owing to the slashed prices of rent for some great residential properties, the peace and tranquility compared to Doha or the Pearl, Al Khor, and Al Wakrah prove to be a good option. Also, the FIFA World Cup 2022 is in ten months and these months will witness a staggering number of tourists settling in Doha. Our verdict: When a comparison is made between the two cities, for a central Doha location like Bin Mahmoud, the average monthly rental for a fully furnished 2 bedroom apartment is QAR 6,623. The same options in Al Wakrah come in at 4,496 per month on average. The average in Al Khor is QAR 4,114.

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