Doha, October 12 (QNA) - Qatar inaugurated the third Qatar Real Estate Forum on Sunday, under the theme "Aqarat’s Future", at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.
HE Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah launched the event in the presence of high-level officials from Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries, as well as a large gathering of regional and international developers and investors.
HE the Minister joined HE Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, in a key panel discussion titled "Real Estate Sector Roadmap Towards Vision 2030". The session explored Gulf-wide integration in real estate development, government incentives for foreign investment, digital transformation, smart cities, real estate financing, and sustainable growth.
HE Minister Al Attiyah highlighted the real estate sector as a cornerstone of Qatar National Vision 2030, contributing between 7–8% of the country's GDP with an annual growth rate of around 4%. He stressed the role of real estate development in diversifying the national economy and supporting sectors such as construction, finance, services, and innovation.
The Qatari minister revealed that the real estate market saw strong growth in 2025, with QAR 8.9 billion in transactions recorded in Q2 — a 29.8% year-on-year increase. Residential deals alone rose by 114%, reflecting market maturity and resilience.
He also emphasized the sector's digital transformation, with emerging technologies like smart contracts, blockchain, and fractional ownership making real estate more accessible and liquid. Innovations such as artificial intelligence and 3D virtual tours are enhancing transparency and simplifying processes.
HE Al Attiyah concluded by describing the real estate sector as one that may face setbacks, but never dies, noting that challenges such as high interest rates can be turned into opportunities through innovative financing tools.
HE Al-Hogail discussed the Kingdom's real estate transformation since 2016, which shifted the sector from direct government management to a model driven by public-private partnerships. He noted that housing finance grew from SAR 200 billion in 2019 to around SAR 900 billion today, supported by the National Housing Company and the Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company.
Al-Hogail also announced an upcoming cooperation agreement between the National Housing Company and Qatari Diar to enhance cross-border investment and expand Qatari companies’ presence in Saudi Arabia.
Looking ahead, both ministers discussed post-2030 real estate trends. Al-Hogail said demand for housing in Riyadh alone will exceed 750,000 units by 2030, particularly in light of major events like Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup. He also noted real estate expansion in Mecca and Medina to accommodate rising visitor numbers and emphasized the importance of regulatory stability in attracting global investors.
The forum concluded with the opening of Cityscape Qatar 2025, a major real estate exhibition showcasing the latest projects from Qatar and the region, with strong participation from both local and international developers. (MORE)