Qatar has introduced major amendments to its Real Estate Lease Law under Law No. 8 of 2026, covering lease registration fees, rental disputes, appeals and penalties. The law, amending Law No. 4 of 2008, was published in the Official Gazette on August 3, 2026, and is set to take effect on September 3, 2026.
Key changes include:
- Fixed registration fee: A QAR 250 fee will apply to each residential, commercial or other unit registered under a lease, replacing the previous fee of 0.5% of the annual rent.
- Rental disputes: The Rental Disputes Settlement Committee will have exclusive authority to hear rental disputes. Cases must be submitted to the committee before they can proceed to court.
- Appeals: Committee decisions can be appealed before the Court of Appeal within 15 days of the decision or notification.
- State property leases: Beneficiaries leasing permitted state-owned property to third parties must register the lease within two months. These registrations are exempt from the QAR 250 fee.
- Penalties: Failure to register eligible lease agreements within the required period may result in fines of up to QAR 10,000.
- Settlement: Registration violations can now be settled by paying QAR 1,000 plus the applicable registration fee, reduced from the previous QAR 5,000 settlement amount.
Landlords and tenants should know the following:
- Landlords must register lease agreements within two months of signing.
- State property beneficiaries should ensure third-party leases are registered where permitted.
- Rental disputes must first go to the Rental Disputes Settlement Committee, and appeals must be filed within the 15-day deadline.
