Qatar property transactions reach $177m in late December 

Data from Qatar’s Ministry of Justice showed that trading across Doha and other municipalities remained elevated, with residential unit sales recorded at 49.4 million riyals during the period, according to the Real Estate Registration Department. Shutterstock
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Updated 01 January 2026
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Qatar property transactions reach $177m in late December 

JEDDAH: Qatar’s real estate transactions exceeded 657 million Qatari riyals ($177.4 million) in the week ended Dec. 25, underscoring steady property market activity. 

Data from Qatar’s Ministry of Justice showed that trading across Doha and other municipalities remained elevated, with residential unit sales recorded at 49.4 million riyals during the period, according to the Real Estate Registration Department. 

The figure marks a sharp increase from the previous week, when total real estate transactions reached about 463 million riyals. That earlier period included sales contracts worth 354.26 million riyals and residential unit transactions totaling 108.76 million riyals, the Qatar News Agency reported. 

Qatar’s weekly trading mirrors broader activity across the Gulf region, where major markets such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi have reported strong sales and stable prices, supported by robust residential and commercial demand. 

The weekly activity highlighted sustained investor confidence, reflecting the broader Gulf-wide trend in real estate heading into 2026. 

“The weekly bulletin issued by the department stated that the properties traded included vacant land, houses, residential buildings, residential complexes, commercial shops, commercial and residential buildings, a commercial and administrative building, and residential units,” the QNA report stated.  

Qatar property sales were concentrated in the municipalities of Al-Rayyan, Doha, Al-Wakrah, and Umm Slal, in addition to Al-Daayen, Al Khor, as well as Al Thakhira, and Al-Shamal. They also included key areas including The Pearl Island, and Al-Kharayej, along with Lusail 69, Al-Wukair, Ghar Thuaileb, and Al-Sakhama municipalities. 

The figures highlight sustained activity in Qatar’s real estate market, with a notable week-on-week increase in trading volumes as the year draws to a close. 

The weekly data align with a stronger performance earlier in the year. Qatar’s real estate sector showed resilience in the first half of 2025, supported by rising residential activity, steady office demand and growth in hospitality and retail, according to a September report by Knight Frank. 

Residential transaction values reached 9.23 billion riyals in the second quarter, up 114 percent year on year, led by Doha, Al Daayen and Al Wakrah. Apartment prices rose 3.5 percent to an average of 13,270 riyals per square meter, while villa prices edged lower. Land sales jumped 85 percent, and prime office rents in Lusail held steady at about 115 riyals per square meter. 

Qatar added 718 hotel rooms during the period, while retail assets maintained high occupancy levels, pointing to continued confidence among investors and consumers. 


Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector is a new economic engine between Riyadh and Paris, says ambassador

Updated 25 January 2026
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Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector is a new economic engine between Riyadh and Paris, says ambassador

RIYADH: Culture has become a fundamental pillar in bilateral relations between France and Saudi Arabia, according to the French Ambassador to the Kingdom, Patrick Maisonnave.

Maisonnave noted its connection to the entertainment and tourism sectors, which makes it a new engine for economic cooperation between Riyadh and Paris.

He told Al-Eqtisadiah during the opening ceremony of La Fabrique in the Jax district of Diriyah that cultural cooperation with Saudi Arabia is an important element for its attractiveness in the coming decades.

La Fabrique is a space dedicated to artistic creativity and cultural exchange, launched as part of a partnership between the Riyadh Art program and the French Institute in Riyadh. 

Running from Jan. 22 until Feb 14, the initiative will provide an open workspace that allows artists to develop and work on their ideas within a collaborative framework.

Launching La Fabrique as a space dedicated to artistic creativity

The ambassador highlighted that the transformation journey in the Kingdom under Vision 2030 has contributed to the emergence of a new generation of young artists and creators, alongside a growing desire in Saudi society to connect with culture and to embrace what is happening globally. 

He affirmed that the relationship between the two countries is “profound, even cultural par excellence,” with interest from the Saudi side in French culture, matched by increasing interest from the French public and cultural institutions unfolding in the Kingdom.

Latest estimates indicate that the culture-based economy represents about 2.3 percent of France’s gross domestic product, equivalent to more than 90 billion euros ($106.4 billion) in annual revenues, according to government data. The sector directly employs more than 600,000 people, making it one of the largest job-creating sectors in the fields of creativity, publishing, cinema, and visual arts.

Saudi Arabia benefiting from French experience in the cultural field

Maisonnave explained that France possesses established cultural institutions, while Saudi Arabia is building a strong cultural sector, which opens the door for cooperation opportunities.

This comes as an extension of the signing of 10 major cultural agreements a year ago between French and Saudi institutions, aiming to enhance cooperation and transfer French expertise and knowledge to contribute to the development of the cultural system in the Kingdom.

He added that experiences like La Fabrique provide an opportunity to meet the new generation of Saudi creators, who have expressed interest in connecting with French institutions and artists in Paris and France.

La Fabrique encompasses a space for multiple contemporary artistic practices, including performance arts, digital and interactive arts, photography, music, and cinema, while providing the public with an opportunity to witness the stages of producing artistic works and interact with the creative process.