New Launch - India Real Estate Report 2026.
Qatar has enacted Law No. (8) of 2026, amending certain provisions of Law No. (4) of 2008 concerning the leasing of real estate.
The amendment introduces a QR250 lease registration fee, expands mandatory lease registration requirements for certain beneficiaries of state property and revises procedures governing rental disputes, appeals and penalties, according to the Official Gazette issued by the Ministry of Justice, Issue No. (13) of 2026.
Under the amended law, the Real Estate Registration Office will collect a registration fee of QR250 for each transaction involving the registration of a real estate lease agreement, applied to each residential, commercial or other unit specified in the property's building permit.
This fee may be amended by a decision of the Council of Ministers upon the proposal of the Minister.
Rental dispute committee gets exclusive jurisdiction
The amended law gives the Rental Disputes Committee exclusive jurisdiction to expeditiously adjudicate all disputes arising from lease relationships between landlords and tenants, including disputes arising from cases exempted under the law.
Lawsuits filed before the courts concerning disputes that fall within the Committee's jurisdiction will not be admissible unless an application has first been submitted to the Committee and a decision has been issued on it.
The Council of Ministers will determine, by decision, the procedures for hearing applications, the rules to be followed before the Committee, the mechanism for enforcing its decisions and the fees to be charged for applications submitted to it.
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Appeals process and penalties for non-compliance
Interested parties may appeal the Committee's decisions before the Court of Appeal within 15 days of the decision, counted from the date it was issued if rendered in the presence of the parties, or from the day following notification if issued in absentia.
The amended law also sets out penalties for non-compliance:
- A fine of up to QR10,000 for violating the relevant registration provisions, without prejudice to any more severe penalty prescribed under another law
- The Minister, or an authorised representative, may settle the offence before or during criminal proceedings, in return for payment of one-tenth of the maximum fine plus the applicable registration fee
- Such a settlement prevents the initiation of criminal proceedings, or terminates them if already under way
New registration requirement for state property leases
A new provision has also been added requiring beneficiaries of public and private state property to register lease agreements concluded with third parties with the Real Estate Registration Office, where their contracts permit such leasing, within two months of the lease agreement being concluded.
These agreements are exempt from the standard registration fee. All competent authorities have been directed to implement the law, which has been published in the Official Gazette.
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