The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics is pleased to publish the nineteenth issue of the monthly Statistics of Building Permits issued by all municipalities of the State.

Building permits data is of particular importance as it is considered an indicator for the performance of the construction sector which in turn occupies a significant position in the national economy.

This press release is intended to give a brief overview of the nature of these monthly permits in terms of their geographical distribution (according to the municipalities) and types of these permits (buildings, additions, fencing) as well as details about categories of the different  types of buildings, whether they are residential or non-residential.

It is worth mentioning that the release of this monthly data comes under the joint cooperation between the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment to make use of the existing electronic link between the two ministries.

In a quick review of the data on building permits issued during the month of July 2016, according to their geographical distribution, we find that Rayyan municipality (including Sheehaniya) comes at the top of the municipalities where the number of building permits issued were 103 permits, i.e. 28% of the total issued permits while Doha municipality came in second place with 84 permits, i.e. 23%, followed by municipality of Al Wakrah with 66 permits (18%), municipality of Al Da'ayen with 48 permits, i.e.13%.The rest of the municipalities were as follows : Al Khor 38 permits (10%), Umm Slal 25 permits (7%), and finally Al Shamal 5 permits (1%).

In terms of type of permits issued, data indicates that the new building permits (residential and non-residential) constitutes 62% (230 permits) of the total building permits issued during the month of July 2016, while the percentage of additions permits constituted 35% (129 permits), and finally fencing permits with 3% (10 permits).

By analyzing new residential buildings permits data, we find that villas’ permits top the list, accounting for 62% (126 permits) of all new residential buildings permits, followed by dwellings of housing loans by 32% (64 permits) and apartments buildings by 5% (10 permits).

On the other hand, commercial buildings were found to be in the forefront of non-residential buildings permits with 41% (11 permits),followed by industrial buildings e.g. workshops and factories with 33% (9 permits), mosques with 15% (4 permits), then government buildings with 11% (3 permits).

Comparing number of permits issued in July 2016 with those issued in the previous month we noted a general decrease of 31%. This is due to the seasonality as well as Eid Al Fitr holidays, lasting for eleven days when all building permits services rendered by official agencies came to halt. The decrease was noted in all municipalities as follows : Doha 35%, Rayyan 40%, Wakrah 23%, Umm Slal 42%, Al Daayen 19%, Al Khor 3% Al Shamal 38%.

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For more statistical data, please visit the Ministry's website: www.mdps.gov.qa  as well as “QALM” portal (Qatar Information Exchange) : www.qix.gov.qa