The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics is pleased to publish the twentieth 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 August 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 234 permits, i.e. 38% of the total issued permits while Doha municipality came in second place with 100 permits, i.e. 16%, followed by municipality of Al Wakrah with 91 permits (15%), municipality of Al Da'ayen with 81 permits, i.e.13%.The rest of the municipalities were as follows : Al Khor 50 permits (8%), Umm Slal 43 permits (7%), and finally Al Shamal 17 permits (3%).

In terms of type of permits issued, data indicates that the new building permits (residential and non-residential) constitutes 57% (351 permits) of the total building permits issued during the month of August 2016, while the percentage of additions permits constituted 38% (237 permits), and finally fencing permits with 5% (28 permits).

By analyzing new residential buildings permits data, we find that villas’ permits top the list, accounting for 48% (151 permits) of all new residential buildings permits, followed by dwellings of housing loans by 39% (121 permits) and apartments buildings by 11% (35 permits).

On the other hand, commercial buildings were found to be in the forefront of non-residential buildings permits with 51% (20 permits),followed by industrial buildings e.g. workshops and factories with 23% (9 permits), mosques with 15% (6 permits), then other non-residential buildings with 8% (3 permits).

Comparing number of permits issued in August 2016 with those issued in the previous month we noted a general increase of 67%. This increase was noted in all municipalities as follows: Doha 19%, Rayyan 127%, Wakrah 38%, Umm Slal 72%, Al Daayen 69%, Al Khor 32% Al Shamal 240%).

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