if for whatever reason you have bought property and need to leave qatar you can always convert your mortgage into a non-resident mortgage. The bank will increase your interest rate to 9.25% and will finance 65% of the loan although with me they were willing to leave it at 80% and they will negotiate as they do not want to lose your business. I purchased two apartments in the Pearl (2BR and 3BR) -- one back in January of 2005 at 7,000QR/sq. m. and one in December of last year at 10,000QR/sq. m. so obviously I put my money where my mouth is. I am do to receive the 2BR in October and the 3BR in December but who knows what delays will be there. One cool aspect is that UDC -- Master Developer -- is in the process of establishing an asset management division that will look after the units for a fee and this would include leasing, maintenance, registration etc...No headaches! I will be off to Dubai on a 4 year contract in August so I am bummed that I won't be able to live there but who knows, maybe i will be back once the contract expires? By then, the Pearl should be at it's peak