Doha, August 11 (QNA) - Law No. (8) of 2026 amending certain provisions of Law No. (4) of 2008 on the leasing of real estate is part of ongoing efforts to advance the nation's legislative and regulatory framework for the real estate sector, the Ministry of Municipality said in a statement on Tuesday.
The amendments will help enhance investment attractiveness, streamline procedures, safeguard the rights of the parties to the lease relationship, and improve the efficiency of the dispute-resolution system, the statement added.
The Ministry said the amendments seek to provide a more efficient and flexible regulatory environment for stakeholders and investors, strengthen the competitiveness of the real estate market, enhance public services, and support sustainable economic and urban development in the State of Qatar.
HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Municipality Eng. Ali bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Ali said the amendments align with the evolution of the real estate sector and aim to establish a more flexible and efficient regulatory environment, foster confidence in the real estate market, and optimize the business environment, thereby supporting the sector's stability and sustainable growth.
Eng. Al Ali noted that the law will take effect on Sept. 3, 2026, calling on all concerned stakeholders to review the amendments, make use of the grace period to finalize procedures, and bring their status into compliance with the law.
He said reducing the lease registration fee would alleviate financial burdens on stakeholders, encourage the registration of leases, and promote compliance with the law, thereby strengthening the stability of rental transactions and safeguarding the rights of landlords and tenants.
The amendments also reduce the lease registration fee. Under the previous law, the fee was calculated at 0.5% of the annual rental value, subject to a minimum of QAR 250 and a maximum of QAR 2,500. Under the amendment, it has been set at a fixed fee of QAR 250.
The law also introduced a new provision by adding Article (20 bis), which allows beneficiaries of public and private state property to register lease agreements concluded with third parties with the competent office within two months of the date the agreement is executed. These agreements are exempt from registration fees.
  The amendment will help address a range of practical challenges previously faced by beneficiaries of state property and their tenants, as it allows lease agreements to be documented and used to complete transactions with government agencies and service providers that require the submission of a documented lease agreement.
This will enhance the legal stability of the landlord-tenant relationship and safeguard the rights of the parties involved. It also establishes a single avenue for appealing decisions of the Rental Disputes Settlement Committee (RDC) before the Court of Appeal, thereby enhancing procedural clarity, providing greater stability and certainty in the legal status of the parties, and promoting consistency in judicial interpretations concerning rental disputes.
Registering these agreements will also provide more accurate data on leased units, supporting real estate policymaking and urban planning while enhancing the efficiency of real estate sector regulation.
As part of efforts to promote compliance and facilitate the correction of legal status, the amendments reduce the settlement fee for certain violations related to the registration of lease agreements from QAR 5,000 to just QAR 1,000.
This is intended to encourage regulated entities to bring their legal status into compliance and register their lease agreements, thereby helping reduce judicial disputes and encouraging the resolution of outstanding legal issues.
In regard to rental disputes, the law expanded the jurisdiction of RDC to include all disputes arising from the landlord-tenant relationship, including disputes concerning cases and lease agreements excluded from the application of the Real Estate Leasing Law.
It also made recourse to the committee a mandatory procedure before filing a lawsuit in court.
These amendments will strengthen the committee's role as a specialized body for resolving rental disputes, streamline procedures, and expedite their resolution, thereby helping rights holders obtain their rights more quickly and reducing the burden on the courts. (QNA)