Old Airport (Al Matar Al Qadeem): Living & Rent Guide

Looking for affordable apartment living close to central Doha? This Old Airport (Al Matar Al Qadeem): Living & Rent Guide covers one of the city's established value-focused residential areas, offering everything from basic studios and villa annexes from around QAR 1,600–1,800 to family apartments around QAR 4,000–6,000 a month. The rent ranges below are based on current Qatar Living listings and should be treated as asking-rent examples rather than fixed market averages, as prices vary by building, furnishing, utilities and contract terms.

Why renters choose Old Airport (Al Matar Al Qadeem)

Old Airport takes its name from its location beside Doha's former international airport area, before Hamad International Airport became Qatar's main passenger hub. Today it's a busy, established Doha neighbourhood with low- to mid-rise apartment buildings, older villas, shops, supermarkets, cafeterias and everyday services concentrated around Al Matar Al Qadeem Street and the surrounding roads.

The main draw is practical value and connectivity. Old Airport offers a broad range of lower- and mid-priced housing while keeping residents within easy reach of central Doha, Hamad International Airport routes and major roads including D Ring Road and E Ring Road. It is particularly popular with working professionals, couples and families who prioritise convenience and everyday amenities over luxury waterfront living.

Where exactly is Old Airport?

Old Airport, also known as Al Matar Al Qadeem, is in the southern part of Doha. It is bordered by Al Hilal to the north, Doha International Airport to the east, Al Thumama to the south and Nuaija to the west.

The district is centred around Al Matar Al Qadeem Street, with D Ring Road, E Ring Road, Airport Street and Najma Street among the major roads providing access around the area. Journey times to Msheireb, Souq Waqif, the Corniche and other central districts depend heavily on traffic, so it's better to test your actual commute during peak hours rather than rely on a fixed driving-time estimate.

What kind of housing you'll find

Old Airport is primarily an apartment and villa-based residential area. The housing stock includes:

• Studios and villa annexes — including compact budget units, some with utilities included.
• 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom flats — one of the main parts of the rental market, available furnished and unfurnished.
• Older Qatari villas and compound villas — including larger family homes and subdivided villa apartments.
• Serviced and short-term units — more expensive options with furniture, utilities, internet and sometimes facilities such as gyms and pools.

Buildings vary considerably. Some properties are older and relatively basic, while newer or serviced buildings may offer lifts, security, gyms, swimming pools and furnished units. Utilities are not automatically included: some current listings include Kahramaa, Wi-Fi or maintenance, while others charge electricity, water and internet separately.

How much is rent in Old Airport in 2026?

Old Airport continues to offer a wide rental range. Based on current Qatar Living listings in September 2026, very basic studios and villa annexes can start below QAR 2,000, while standard family apartments generally sit higher depending on bedroom count, furnishing and amenities.

Studios and small budget units

This is where some of Old Airport's lowest asking rents appear, but it's important to distinguish between a villa annex/basic studio and a conventional furnished apartment:

• Basic villa-annex or compact studio units: around QAR 1,600–1,800/month in current listings, sometimes with water and electricity included.
• Standard unfurnished studios in apartment buildings: around QAR 2,000–2,500/month.
• Fully furnished studios with utilities or Wi-Fi included: around QAR 2,800–3,000/month in current listings.

Ultra-low advertised rents should be checked carefully for property type, size, occupancy restrictions and whether the unit is a standalone apartment, villa portion or room-style accommodation.

1-bedroom apartments

Current listings show a fairly broad range:

• Basic 1-bedroom villa apartments and unfurnished units: around QAR 2,500–3,500/month.
• Newer conventional 1-bedroom apartments: around QAR 3,400–3,500/month in several current listings.
• Fully furnished, higher-spec units with facilities and bills included can reach around QAR 5,500/month.

That makes roughly QAR 2,500–3,500 a more useful starting range for straightforward 1-bedroom options, with furnished and amenity-heavy properties above it.

2-bedroom apartments

The 2-bedroom category has a large supply and is one of the most relevant options for small families.

Current examples include:

• Basic/unfurnished 2-bedroom apartments: around QAR 3,500–5,000/month.
• Fully furnished 2-bedroom apartments: commonly around QAR 4,000–5,200/month in current Qatar Living listings.
• Some furnished units around QAR 5,000 include Kahramaa, internet or both, while others exclude bills.

The earlier QAR 6,000–7,500 range is too high to present as typical for a normal 2-bedroom in Old Airport.

3-bedroom apartments and villas

Current 3-bedroom apartment listings are noticeably cheaper than the original draft suggested:

• Unfurnished 3-bedroom apartments: around QAR 4,200–5,500/month in current examples.
• Fully furnished 3-bedroom apartments: around QAR 5,200–6,000/month in current listings.
• Premium serviced or hotel-style 3-bedroom units with facilities and bills included can rise much higher — one current example is around QAR 11,000/month.

Villas are a different segment altogether. Current Old Airport listings include a 3-bedroom compound villa at around QAR 9,000, while larger 4-bedroom villas appear around QAR 9,000–14,000 depending on size, furnishing and facilities.

Getting around: Metro, Karwa and driving

Old Airport has stronger Metro access than the original draft suggested. Al Matar Al Qadeem and Oqba Ibn Nafie stations are both on the Doha Metro Red Line and serve the Old Airport area directly. Local Metrolink routes also connect surrounding streets with the stations.

Many residents use a mix of options:

• Driving — D Ring Road, E Ring Road, Airport Street and Najma Street provide connections across Doha. Parking availability varies from building to building.
• Karwa taxis and ride-hailing apps — widely available for trips around Doha.
• Doha Metro — Al Matar Al Qadeem and Oqba Ibn Nafie, both on the Red Line, provide direct access towards Msheireb, West Bay, Lusail, Al Wakra and the airport branch of the network.
• Metrolink and Karwa buses — feeder and bus services connect residential streets with the wider public-transport network.

Al Mansoura should not be listed as one of Old Airport's main Red Line stations — Al Mansoura is on the Green Line.

Shopping, dining and daily life

Daily life is one of Old Airport's strengths. Al Matar Al Qadeem Street and surrounding roads have supermarkets, groceries, bakeries, pharmacies, cafés, restaurants and service businesses. The area is particularly well known for casual and affordable dining, with a wide range of cuisines represented.

Residents also have access to larger supermarkets and shopping options around D Ring Road and neighbouring districts. The Mall, one of Doha's long-established shopping centres, is close to the area, while LuLu and other large supermarkets serve different parts of Old Airport and its surroundings.

Who Old Airport suits best

• Budget-conscious singles and couples looking for relatively affordable housing with strong transport links.
• Small and medium-sized families looking for 2- or 3-bedroom apartments close to daily amenities.
• Residents without a car who value access to Al Matar Al Qadeem and Oqba Ibn Nafie Metro stations.
• Long-term residents who prefer an established, practical neighbourhood over a newer master-planned district.

Tips before you sign a lease

• Confirm what's included — Kahramaa, internet and maintenance vary from one listing to another.
• Check the property type carefully — a QAR 1,700 “studio” may be a villa annex rather than a standard apartment-building unit.
• View in person — building age, parking, finishes and maintenance can differ significantly between streets.
• Check the contract terms — deposits, agency commission and cheque requirements vary. Current listings show everything from no deposit to one-month deposits and half-month commissions.
• Compare effective rent — free months and bills-included deals can make two properties with similar advertised rents very different in real annual cost.
• Test the commute — use your actual work or school route during morning or evening peak traffic before committing.

In short, Old Airport (Al Matar Al Qadeem) remains a practical choice for renters who want an established Doha neighbourhood with Red Line Metro access, everyday shops and restaurants, and a broad range of rental prices. Current listings span from compact villa studios below QAR 2,000 to standard family apartments around QAR 4,000–6,000, with villas and serviced properties costing more. Browse the latest options on Qatar Living Properties and filter by area, budget and furnishing to find your fit in Old Airport.

FAQs

Is Old Airport a good area to live in Doha?

Yes, particularly for renters looking for an established neighbourhood with shops, restaurants, major road connections and direct access to two Red Line Metro stations. Housing ranges from basic villa apartments to larger family flats and compound villas.

How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in Old Airport?

Based on current Qatar Living listings, roughly QAR 3,500–5,000/month covers many unfurnished 2-bedroom options, while furnished units commonly appear around QAR 4,000–5,200/month. Bills, building quality and amenities can move the price higher or lower.

How do Old Airport rents compare to nearby areas?

Old Airport is competitively priced, but it is not safe to say it is always cheaper than Najma or Al Mansoura. Current 2-bedroom listings in all three areas overlap around the QAR 4,000–5,000 range, depending on furnishing, bills and building quality.

Are utilities included in Old Airport rents?

Sometimes. Several current villa-apartment and furnished listings include water and electricity, and some also include Wi-Fi. Other conventional apartments explicitly exclude Kahramaa and internet, so never assume bills are included based on the neighbourhood alone.

Is Old Airport close to the Metro?

Yes. Al Matar Al Qadeem and Oqba Ibn Nafie stations on the Red Line both serve Old Airport, with Metrolink routes extending coverage into surrounding residential streets.

What's the cheapest rent in Old Airport?

Current Qatar Living listings include compact villa studios from around QAR 1,600–1,800/month, sometimes with utilities included. These are very basic units and should not be compared directly with conventional furnished studio apartments, which are currently closer to QAR 2,800–3,000/month in several listings.

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