Qatar ranked fourth in the world for investments in real estate

Qatar finished fourth overall among 50 countries for residential property investment in 2023 as per the inaugural ranking released by the Housearch Investment Index. 

The index, which delved into opportunities and risks of investing in real estate among 50 countries worldwide, ranked Oman in third place, followed by Qatar close behind. While Oman had an investment payback of 11, Qatar had the number at 14.

Europe’s Ireland topped the index with 16 investment payback due to its high rental yields, followed by Cyprus with 11. 

The other Asian countries that made it to the top 10 are the United Arab Emirates (fifth), Georgia (eighth), and Armenia (ninth). Costa Rica, ranked seventh, was the only North American country in the global top 10, while European countries Malta and Bulgaria were listed in sixth and 10th places, respectively.  

The trend underscored the Gulf region’s appeal as a stable and reliable investment haven, especially amidst cooling property markets in Europe and North America due to expected ‘higher-for-longer’ interest rates, said Housearch in its report. 

According to the Index’s ranking, Oman and Qatar are gaining traction, attracting global investors seeking reliable and stable cash flows. These markets are emerging as attractive alternatives to traditional investment destinations, offering promising opportunities for portfolio diversification.

Mark Wilson, Adviser to CEO and Head of Research at Housearch, said, “Oman and Qatar’s strong showing in our 2024 Index reflects a growing investor confidence in the Gulf region as a whole.” He further added that these markets offer lucrative opportunities for those seeking stable returns in the current economic climate.

The countries were ranked according to four criteria — rental yields or investment payback, global peace index, property rights index, and GDP growth.