DOHA: A total of 666 building permits were issued during the month of August in various municipalities in the State of Qatar, a rise of 5 percent compared to 634 building permits issued in the previous month, according to data issued by the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday.
Comparing number of permits issued in August 2023 with those issued in the previous month, an increase was noted in most of the municipalities: Umm Salal (78 percent), Al Khor (17 percent), Doha (9 percent), Al Daayen (2 percent), On the other hand, there was a clear decrease in the municipality of Al Shammal (36 percent), Al Wakrah (3 percent), Al Rayyan (1 percent), While Al Sheehaniya municipality retained the same number of issued permits.
According to the geographical distribution, Al Rayyan comes at the top of the municipalities where the number of building permits issued was 161 permits (24 percent of the total issued permits), while Doha came in second place with 152 permits (23 percent), followed by Al Wakrah with 134 permits (20 percent), then Al Daayen with 109 permits (16 percent).
The rest of the municipalities were as follows: Umm Salal with 48 permits (7 percent), Al Khor with 41 permits (6 percent), Al Sheehaniya with 14 permits (2 percent), and Al Shammal with 7 permits (1 percent).
In terms of the type of permits issued, data indicates that the new building permits (residential and non-residential) constitute 37 percent (249 permits) of the total building permits issued during the month of August 2023, while the percentage of additions permits constituted 58 percent (386 permits), and finally fencing permits with 5 percent (31 permits).
Villas top the list, accounting for 90 percent (190 permits) of all new residential building permits, followed by apartment building loan permits by 5 percent (10 permits), and dwellings of housing permits by 4 percent (9 permits).
On the other hand, commercial buildings were found to be at the forefront of non-residential building permits with 38 percent (15 permits), followed by industrial buildings such as workshops and factories with 33 percent (13 permits), then Mosques with 15 percent (6 permits).
Data of building completion certificates issued in August 2023 showed a general decrease of 3 percent. This decrease was clearly noted in the municipalities of Al Khor (47 percent), Al Wakrah (24 percent), Al Daayen (21 percent), On the other hand, there was a clear increase in the municipality of Al Sheehaniya (200 percent), Umm Salal (61 percent), Al Shammal (50 percent), Al Rayyan (7 percent), and Doha (2 percent).
According to their geographical distribution, Al Rayyan comes at the top of the municipalities where the number of building completion certificates issued was 115 certificates (30 percent) of the total issued certificates, while Al Wakrah came in second place with 73 certificates (19 percent), followed by Al Daayen with 71 certificates (18 percent), then Doha with 46 certificates (12 percent). The rest of the municipalities were as follows Umm Slal 45 certificates (12 percent), Al Shammal and Al Sheehaniya 12 certificates each (3 percent), Al Khor 10 certificates (3 percent).
In terms of the type of certificates issued, data indicates that the new building completion certificates (residential and non-residential) constitute 84 percent (321 certificates) of the total building certificates issued during the month of August 2023, while the percentage of additions certificates constituted 16 percent (63 certificates).
By analyzing new residential buildings completion certificates data, villas top the list, accounting for 86 percent (227 certificates) of all new residential buildings completion certificates, followed by dwellings of housing loans by 7 percent (18 certificates), then apartments buildings certificates by 5 percent (13 certificates).
On the other hand, industrial buildings like workshops and factories were found to be at the forefront of non-residential buildings completion certificates with 46 percent (26 certificates), followed by commercial buildings with 40 percent (23 certificates), then Mosques with 9 percent (5 certificates).
Building permits and building completion certificates data is of particular importance as it is considered an indicator of the performance of the construction sector which in turn occupies a significant position in the national economy.
The release of this monthly data comes under joint cooperation between the Planning and Statistics Authority and the Ministry of Municipality to make use of the existing electronic link between the two sides.