Chairman of Real Estate Regulatory Authority – Aqarat, Eng. Khalid bin Ahmed Al Obaidli with other panellists during the session, yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s advanced infrastructure is a model for future cites as it offers a high quality of living and attracts investors to the country.
Industry leaders discussed that the region, including Qatar, stands to benefit as tourism has become a key driver of real estate investment, with country’s advanced infrastructure positioning it as an emerging investment and tourism destination, during a panel session entitled ‘Global Real Estate: Supply and Demand’ on the sidelines of Qatar Economic Forum 2025, Powered by Bloomberg yesterday.
The discussion highlighted key challenges and opportunities in the real estate sector from regulatory, investment, and tourism perspectives.
Speaking at the session, Chairman of Real Estate Regulatory Authority – Aqarat, Eng. Khalid bin Ahmed Al Obaidli said, the real estate authority was created by an Amiri decree on 2023, and then officially we launched our strategy December 2024. We aim to increase transparency, provide the right ecosystem for the real estate market, which we are trying to achieve right now.
Since then we have established few required infrastructure in terms of the regulations that to be set in the country. For example, we have launched the Licensing Committee, which is in my opinion, one of the most important requirements for any new projects or development that they have to be licensed by the real estate authority which has as well the escrow account mechanism to guarantee that any investments and any payments is made to an account will be supervised by the authority.
This is to ensure that the risk of any default or misbehavior by the developers or by the market as being guaranteed, monitored and regularly monitored by the real estate authority.
“We signed with the investment Agency of Qatar a three-year plan to promote the sector and we have a road map to go and showcase brand Qatar to the world, especially the real estate market,” he added.
He also detailed global promotional strategies for Qatari real estate, citing the Smaisma Project as one of the most significant upcoming developments.
Regarding supply and demand dynamics, he noted that Qatar’s infrastructure expansion, initially geared toward the FIFA World Cup 2022, continues to support demand growth. Al Obaidli highlighted a 13.1% population increase since 2020, with Qatar’s population exceeding 3.2 million today, which supports strong market demand and mitigating the risk of oversupply.
For his part, Global Chief Investment Officer at Hines David L Steinbach shared a strategic analysis of the international real estate market, especially in light of recent economic challenges.
Qatar, with its advanced infrastructure and integrated urban planning, represents a model for future cities, offering high-quality modern living within a compact geography, making it attractive to investors and residents alike, he noted.
Meanwhile Founder and Chairman of Rixos Hotels, Fettah Tamince gave an outlook on tourism and real estate investment in the Middle East, stressing that unlike many global regions, the Middle East is witnessing accelerated growth in tourism and real estate demand, thanks to its advanced infrastructure, ease of business operations, and visionary leadership.
He noted that the region is now a global investment hub, particularly for international investors seeking stability, diversity, and high returns. Tamince said, “Qatar and GCC nations are attracting millions of visitors through massive projects, world-class infrastructure, and advanced tourism services. He further highlighted that regional airline expansion, including Qatar Airways’ fleet growth, reflects rising travel demand, reinforcing the sustainability of tourism investments in the long term.
