Qatar has introduced important changes to its Real Estate Lease Law, covering contract registration fees, rental disputes, appeals and penalties for registration violations.
Law No. 8 of 2026 amends several provisions of Law No. 4 of 2008 on real estate leasing. The new legislation was published in the Official Gazette on 3 August 2026.
A Fixed QAR 250 Registration Fee Per Unit
One of the most significant changes is the introduction of a fixed QAR 250 fee for each residential, commercial or other unit included in a lease registration transaction, based on the units listed in the property’s building permit.
This replaces the previous fee of 0.5% of the unit’s annual rental value, which was subject to a minimum of QAR 250 and a maximum of QAR 2,500. The registration fee may still be changed through a Cabinet decision based on a proposal from the relevant minister.
For landlords registering several units within the same property, the QAR 250 fee applies separately to each unit covered by the transaction.
Rental Committee Given Wider Jurisdiction
The amended law gives the Rental Disputes Settlement Committee exclusive authority to urgently hear and decide disputes arising from relationships between landlords and tenants.
Its jurisdiction now also expressly includes disputes connected to cases excluded from the general application of the law under Article 2.
This means the committee is the first body responsible for considering rental disputes that fall within its jurisdiction.
Rental Disputes Must Go to the Committee First
Parties cannot take a rental dispute directly to the courts when it falls within the committee’s jurisdiction.
The claim must first be submitted to the Rental Disputes Settlement Committee and decided before it can proceed through the court system.
A separate Cabinet decision will establish the procedures for submitting and reviewing applications, the rules followed before the committee, the method for enforcing its decisions and the applicable fees.
Appeals Must Be Filed Within 15 Days
Landlords, tenants and other relevant parties may challenge the committee’s decisions before the Court of Appeal.
The appeal deadline is:
- 15 days from the date the decision is issued when it is made in the party’s presence.
- 15 days beginning from the day after the party is notified when the decision is issued in their absence.
Missing this short deadline could affect the right to appeal, making it important for the parties involved to follow the decision and notification dates carefully.
Mandatory Registration for State Property Beneficiaries
The law introduces a registration requirement for beneficiaries of public or private state property who enter into lease agreements with third parties.
Where the beneficiary’s original agreement permits such leasing, the new lease must be registered with the Real Estate Lease Registration Office within two months of being concluded.
These agreements are exempt from the QAR 250 registration fee.
The amendment does not independently grant beneficiaries the right to lease state property. It applies only where their existing agreements already allow them to conclude leases with others.
Fines of Up to QAR 10,000 for Registration Violations
A fine of up to QAR 10,000 may be imposed for failing to meet the registration requirements covered by the law.
This includes:
- Landlords who fail to register a lease agreement within two months of signing it.
- Beneficiaries of state property who fail to register applicable third-party lease agreements within two months.
The landlord’s obligation to register a lease within two months already existed under Article 3 of the law. The amendment extends the penalty provision to include the new registration duty imposed on state property beneficiaries.
Settlement Amount Reduced to QAR 1,000
The amended law also significantly reduces the amount required to settle a registration offence.
A settlement may now be reached by paying:
- QAR 1,000, equal to one-tenth of the maximum QAR 10,000 fine.
- The applicable registration fee.
Under the previous provision, settlement required payment of half the maximum fine, equivalent to QAR 5,000, in addition to the registration fee.
Settlement may take place before criminal proceedings are initiated or while the case is being considered, provided a final judgment has not yet been issued. Once completed, the settlement prevents criminal proceedings from being initiated or brings an existing case to an end, depending on the circumstances.
When Will the Amended Law Take Effect?
The legislation was published in the Official Gazette on 3 August 2026 and does not specify a separate effective date.
Under Article 142 of Qatar’s Permanent Constitution, laws generally take effect one month after publication unless the legislation provides otherwise. The amendments are therefore set to take effect on 3 September 2026.
What Landlords and Tenants Should Check
Landlords should ensure that lease agreements are written, contain the legally required information and are registered within two months of signing.
Beneficiaries of state property should review their original agreements to determine whether leasing to third parties is permitted and, where applicable, register those leases within the required period.
Anyone involved in a rental dispute should also remember that the claim must first be submitted to the Rental Disputes Settlement Committee and that any appeal must be filed within the 15-day deadline.
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