Where Foreigners Can Buy Property in Qatar in 2026: The 10 Areas and Zone Numbers
Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2026 replaced the list of areas where non-Qataris can own property. The 10 areas, their cadastral zone numbers and how to check that your plot qualifies before you pay.
Buying property is one of the biggest decisions an expat makes in Qatar, and lists of eligible areas circulate in many versions. Some are years old. This guide uses the list reported by Qatar Living on 8 June 2026 from the Official Gazette (Issue No. 9 of 2026), and a second Qatar Living guide to buying as a foreigner. We could not read the Gazette table or the map ourselves, so confirm with the Ministry of Justice's Real Estate Registration Department before you pay a deposit. It is general information, not legal advice.
What did the 2026 resolution change?
Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2026 amends Resolution No. 28 of 2020 on the areas, conditions and procedures for foreign ownership and usufruct rights. It replaces the old Table No. 1, with its planning and cadastral map, by a new table. It came into force the day after publication in the Gazette. The Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice registers ownership, usufruct rights and related transactions.
The 10 areas
| # | Area | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Bay (Legtaifiya Area) | 66 |
| 2 | The Pearl Island | 66 |
| 3 | Al Khor Resort | 74 |
| 4 | Dafna (Administrative Area) | 60 |
| 5 | Dafna (Administrative Area) | 61 |
| 6 | Onaiza (Administrative Area) | 63 |
| 7 | Lusail | 69 |
| 8 | Al Kharayej | 69 |
| 9 | Jabal Thuaileb | 69 |
| 10 | Simaisma Resort and Beach Project | 70 |
Qatar Living's list is the only source we found for the exact table, and it does not say what the previous list contained. Our guide to buying property in Qatar explains the older framework, including the 99 year usufruct areas under earlier rules, and you should read it together with this page. We found no source that explains which of the older areas, if any, remain open for usufruct.
Why a district name is not enough
The official table lists cadastral zone numbers and comes with a map that defines the exact boundaries. A listing that says Lusail or The Pearl may sit just outside the mapped area, or may carry a different title. Qatar Living's Lusail guide warns that not every Lusail listing carries the same freehold title or residency rights, and advises checking whether the title is freehold or usufruct, whether the project is licensed and how the escrow works.
How to check a property before you pay
1. Ask the seller or broker for the plot's zone number and the title deed type.
2. Compare the zone with the table above. A match on the zone is a start, not proof.
3. Ask for the project license and the escrow arrangement for off-plan units.
4. Use a licensed developer or broker, and confirm with the Real Estate Registration Department.
5. Do not pay a large deposit before you have seen the title.
6. Read our guide to mortgages for expats and use the mortgage calculator to see what you can afford.
What about residency through property?
Qatar Living's Lusail guide says property-linked residence is reported to start from QAR 730,000, with a higher tier from QAR 3.65 million that adds healthcare, education and investment benefits, and that approval is not automatic. A bank page we found cites a different, higher figure and is undated. We could not find the rule's official text, so we do not recommend buying on the assumption of residency. Check the current conditions first.
Areas you may be considering
See our place guides for Lusail, The Pearl-Qatar and West Bay, including reported rents and sale prices, and the cost of living in Qatar. If you rent while you decide, read renting an apartment in Qatar, and note the new rules in Qatar's tenancy law 2026.
What we could not verify
- The Gazette table and map, which we could not read.
- Which older areas stay open for usufruct under the new resolution.
- The current conditions and amounts for residency linked to property.
Part of our guide to banking and money in qatar
Start with the full guide: Banking and Money in Qatar: Accounts, Cards, Loans and Transfers Guide
More on: renting and buying a home
- Renting an Apartment in Qatar: The Process, Contract, and Disputes
- Registering a Rental Contract in Qatar: Who Does It and Why It Matters
- Rental Deposit Not Returned in Qatar? What Tenants Can Do
- Can My Landlord Evict Me in Qatar? Tenant Rights and Legal Grounds
- Landlord Not Fixing Repairs in Qatar? Your Rights as a Tenant
- Buying Property in Qatar: Freehold Areas and How Ownership Works
- Qatar's New Tenancy Law 2026: QAR 250 Lease Fee, Rental Disputes Committee and What Tenants Must Do
Frequently asked questions
Which areas of Qatar can foreigners buy property in 2026?
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2026, as reported by Qatar Living: West Bay and The Pearl (Zone 66), Al Khor Resort (74), Dafna (60 and 61), Onaiza (63), Lusail, Al Kharayej and Jabal Thuaileb (69) and the Simaisma project (70).
Can a foreigner buy property in Lusail?
Lusail, in Zone 69, is on the 2026 list, but Qatar Living warns that not every Lusail listing has the same title, so check whether it is freehold or usufruct and whether the project is licensed.
Who registers property for non-Qataris in Qatar?
The Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice registers ownership, usufruct rights and related transactions.
Sources & references
Agha Ali Abbas
Founder & Editor
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