Glut and slump hit Qatari property sector

Expatriate departures amid global downturn erode demand as more units near completion.

DOHA // A surplus of homes and the aftershocks of the global economic crisis are hammering prices for rental and residential properties in Qatar's capital city. In a recent survey from the property firm Century 21 Qatar, apartment rental prices in some areas of Doha fell by 10 per cent last month. In the past 18 months, rental and housing prices have dropped between 20 and 60 per cent, say several Doha property agents, as similar scenarios play out in other GCC cities such as Dubai and Kuwait City. In a report released last September, Qatar Oman Investment found there were 15,000 unoccupied apartments across Doha. "The market is not good at all," said P N Baburajan, a property agent who has worked in the sector in Doha for 20 years. "There used to be so many new companies coming in, from Dubai and UAE and Saudi Arabia - even the US and Europe - and bringing all those employees. But now companies have stopped coming, and some have reduced staff strength as well." Still, developments continue to rise. Work continues on The Pearl-Qatar, a series of high-end retail outlets and leafy residential neighbourhoods built on a man-made island twisting out into the Gulf like a string of pearls. With two luxury hotels, "smart" housing for more than 40,000 and 12km of pristine beaches, it is the grandest property development in the history of Qatar and is set for completion in 2013. Doha developers are building Al Wa'ab City, a US$3.2 billion (Dh11.75bn) family-oriented community development from Nasser Bin Khaled Holding; Lusail, a $5.5bn luxury waterfront city from Qatari Diar, with housing for 200,000, not far from The Pearl; and Barwa Village, a $500 million housing project to be completed in the coming months. All of this new housing will enter an already crowded market. Bank of America Merrill Lynch warned that by 2012, when Qatar's gas-driven expansion has been completed, there will be a limited need for labour in the non-oil economy. Expatriates may then leave Qatar in large numbers, resulting in a "significant overhang" of property. Troubles in the property sector are not unique to Doha. Kuwait's City of Silk has been halted in the planning stages. In style and scale, The Pearl is reminiscent of Dubai developments such as the Palm islands and The World, both of which were built by Nakheel. Nakheel is under the umbrella of the government-owned Dubai World, which recently began talks to restructure its debt repayments - due in part to an unstable property market. Yet United Development, the company behind The Pearl, is fortunate to be building in Qatar, where abundant gas revenues have allowed the government to support developers and financial services firms in the downturn, buying portfolios and backing up loans. The Qatari economy is expected to grow nearly 15 per cent this year, among the world's fastest. This may explain The Pearl's target demographic. One-bedroom homes - which include remote-controlled lighting and cooling, high-speed wireless internet, maid service, security and reception, and a health club with gym, jacuzzi and juice bar - retail for 1.5m rials (Dh1.5m). The Pearl says it has sold nearly two thirds of its available properties, including all 450 villas. "We have some interest," said Georges Bou Abdallah, the sales and leasing team leader in Doha for the brokerage firm Asteco, referring to flats at The Pearl. "But there's more interest in the secondary market, in resale." Resale properties at The Pearl were going for about 1m rials, Mr Abdallah said, 25-30 per cent off their initial price. Rental prices for apartments at The Pearl have dropped further. Units initially budgeted at 20,000 rials have come down to between 10,000 and 11,000 rials. "We are getting inquiries, but mainly people are viewing and not renting," said Mr Baburajan, who remained optimistic. "The market is slowly coming up. By the middle of 2010, the situation will be changed." United Development has faced delays in delivering some units but after cutting costs and curbing expansion plans, expects to meet its deadlines. "Everything is more or less on schedule," a representative said. In Porto Arabia, residents have begun moving in to The Pearl's first completed apartment building, while some 40 luxury outlets including Armani, Coach, Balenciaga and Hermes have opened on the promenade. In late afternoons and evenings, couples, families and friends stroll the boardwalk, stopping to chat over coffee, watch sidewalk performers and window shop. "It's been pretty slow," said Amin Derriche, assistant manager of the Giorgio Armani store, which opened last February. "But we expected it to be like this. Business here won't be like our European stores for another two to three years." [e-mail]