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Qatar Introduces US$200,000 Property Path to Residency

The new threshold could give Qatar's program a price edge over regional rivals such as the UAE, albeit with caveats.

Moustafa Daly

IMI
• Cairo

Qatar has introduced a new route to real estate–linked residency for foreign investors at a significantly lower threshold, adding a US$200,000 option for temporary one year, renewable residency alongside the existing US$1 million pathway to permanent residency. 

The policy shift was recently announced by the Chairman of Qatar’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), Khalid bin Ahmed Al Obaidli, who said the move marks a strategic broadening of Qatar’s Residence Visa for Real Estate Owners to capture mid-market demand.

What’s new

  • New tier: A temporary residence permit is now available with a minimum real estate purchase of $200,000 (QAR 730,000), in designated foreign-ownership zones.
  • Existing tier retained: Permanent residency remains accessible at US$1 million (about QAR 3.65 million), subject to an annual cap of 100.
  • Faster processing: Authorities say title deeds and residency tied to qualifying purchases will be issued within days, coordinated across the Interior, Justice, and Labour ministries and the Investment Promotion Agency.

How US$200K Compares Regionally

The US$200,000 entry point positions Qatar below its original $1 million threshold and within range of regional competitors offering residency through mid-market property investments.

Across the region, the UAE Golden Visa program requires a minimum investment of about $545,000 and grants a ten-year visa. Qatar’s $200,000 threshold grants temporary residency and limits purchases to designated zones such as Doha’s Lusail and The Pearl districts.

However, the UAE program offers a longer residence period, multiple investment pathways beyond property, and recently extended citizen-level consular services to Golden Visa holders.

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Saudi Arabia requires property investors to acquire at least SAR 4 million (about US$1.1 million) in existing real estate to qualify for permanent residence. Qatar’s US$1 million track to permanent residency sits below Saudi Arabia’s property threshold, though Qatar caps permanent residency approvals at 100 annually.

Qatar requires Arabic fluency for permanent residency, a criterion not imposed by the UAE or Saudi programs.

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