Qatar's property market just saw a huge jump in mortgage activity. Mortgage deals shot up 599 percent in one week, with the total value hitting 805.4 million QAR between 13 and 19 September 2026. This spike came as rental contracts and overall sales volumes dropped. Data from the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, also reported by Reuters, shows the market is unsettled. Mortgage activity is up, but the rest of the market is moving in different directions, much like what's happening across the Gulf.
Property sales numbers fell, but the value of those deals climbed to 430.7 million QAR across 120 transactions. That's a 12.3 percent rise from the week before, according to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority. Still, sales value is down 14.9 percent compared to last year, and the number of deals is 9.8 percent lower. The Emirates News Agency (WAM) has pointed out similar cycles in the UAE, where big villa and land deals can push up values even as the number of sales drops.
Villas and land lead the market
Villas made up almost half the value of all property sales, totaling 203.5 million QAR. Vacant land followed with 178.5 million QAR. Apartment sales were much lower at 27 million QAR, and other property types added just 2.6 million QAR. Al Dhaayen was the busiest municipality, with 137.9 million QAR in deals, ahead of Doha and Al Rayyan. High-value deals are still focused in a few key areas, echoing trends in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. There, government-backed projects and free zone perks keep drawing both local and foreign investors, as reported by The National.
The mortgage market was the real standout. There were 37 mortgage deals that week, up 184.6 percent in volume from the week before and 54.2 percent higher than the same week last year. Land made up more than half the value of these mortgages at 446 million QAR. Villas accounted for 330 million QAR, and buildings for 111 million QAR. Doha led the way in mortgage activity with 505 million QAR in deals, while Al Rayyan and Al Shamal followed. The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) notes that strong mortgage growth often signals renewed buyer confidence and more liquidity in the Gulf property sector.
Rental contracts drop sharply
Rental activity took a big hit. Only 502 rental contracts were signed, with a total value of 4.76 million QAR. That's a 52.3 percent drop in rental value from the week before and a 74.7 percent fall compared to last year. The number of contracts also fell by more than half, both week-on-week and year-on-year. Villas again led, making up half the total rental value. Apartments brought in 1.67 million QAR, and commercial spaces just 510,000 QAR. Al Rayyan and Doha stayed on top for rental value, but even these areas couldn't stop the wider market slide. The Dubai Media Office has reported that similar drops in the UAE rental market have led to new tenant protections and faster dispute resolution rules.
These numbers match what's happening in other Gulf property markets, where mortgage activity and buyer demand can move in the opposite direction from rental trends. For example, a recent report showed how new residential projects in Dubai are targeting changing buyer needs, showing how the region's real estate scene is shifting.
Qatar's latest data stands out for the sheer size of the mortgage surge, even as rental demand and sales transactions fall. This split points to a market in transition. Buyers are using mortgages to secure property, while rental demand keeps dropping. For investors and residents, the numbers show a property sector where mortgage-backed purchases are driving activity, but rentals are under pressure. The next few months will show if this mortgage boom can last, or if weak rental and sales numbers will pull the market in a new direction.
